johns
word · lemma: john
Definition
'Johns' is the plural of 'john.' In American slang, it can mean public toilets, or men who pay for sex workers, depending on context.
Usage & Nuances
Very informal, mostly American slang. 'Johns' for toilets is old-fashioned and less used in modern English; you'll hear 'restrooms' or 'bathrooms' more often. In crime and news, 'johns' is used for men paying sex workers. Rarely used outside the US. Context is very important.
Example Sentences
The boys went to the johns at the park.
basic
Some cities clean the public johns every morning.
basic
The police arrested several johns during the operation.
basic
Those old gas station johns are always so dirty.
natural
Undercover officers pretended to be johns to catch the criminals.
natural
Everybody knows to avoid those sketchy downtown johns at night.
natural