household name
/ˈhaʊshəʊld neɪm/
Meaning
A household name is a person, brand, or character that is extremely famous and known by almost everyone in a society. It refers to people or things so common that they are regularly spoken about in normal homes.
Examples
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After starring in that sci-fi trilogy, she became a household name overnight.
After starring in that sci-fi trilogy, she became a household name overnight.
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The director was relatively unknown before, but now he is a household name.
The director was relatively unknown before, but now he is a household name.
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Very few indie musicians manage to become a household name.
Very few indie musicians manage to become a household name.
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Although she is a household name in Europe, she is barely known in Asia.
Although she is a household name in Europe, she is barely known in Asia.
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It takes years of hard work and good PR to become a household name.
It takes years of hard work and good PR to become a household name.
Common Mistakes
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✗ He is a house name now.
✓ He is a household name now.
The correct idiomatic collocation is "household name," not "house name."
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✗ She became household name after the show.
✓ She became a household name after the show.
Because "household name" is a countable noun phrase, it requires an article like "a" or "the."
Related Expressions
Practice
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With the success of her new album, the singer has become a ___.
💡 Someone everyone knows.
Show answer
household name
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He wants to be famous, but it's hard to become a ___ in this industry.
💡 A very well-known person.
Show answer
household name