Islington person
Islington person
Pronunciation
ˌɪz.lɪŋ.tən.ˈpɜː.sən
Is: ˈɪz - /ɪ/ as in "sit," /z/ as in "zoo."
ling: lɪŋ - /l/ as in "lip," /ɪŋ/ as in "sing."
ton: tən - /t/ as in "top," /ən/ as in the unstressed "a" in "sofa."
per: pɜː - /p/ as in "pin," /ɜː/ as in "bird."
son: sən - /s/ as in "sun," /ən/ as in the unstressed "a" in "sofa."
Word Form Variations
Singular: Islington person
Plural: Islington people, Islington persons (less common)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A person who lives in, is from, or is otherwise associated with the borough of Islington in London. This term is often used to describe a resident of the area.
Synonyms: Islington resident, Islington native
Antonyms: Non-Islingtonian, non-Islington resident
Definition 2: A person whose character, lifestyle, or political views are stereotypically associated with the Islington area, often implying a certain type of urban, liberal, and professional class.
Synonyms: Yuppie (in some contexts), urbanite, liberal elite
Antonyms: Rural dweller, traditionalist, working-class person (in some contexts)
Examples of Use
In a newspaper article: "The new cycle lane has sparked debate, with some local businesses claiming it will hurt trade, while an Islington person was quoted saying it's a necessary step for sustainable transport" (The Guardian, October 2023).
In a television show script: "He's not just a politician; he's a true Islington person, with all the right-on, slightly smug opinions you'd expect" (BBC, 2022).
In a blog post about real estate: "The prices in this part of town are so high, it's a prime target for the wealthy Islington person looking to expand their property portfolio" (Property Observer, July 2024).
In a book about social class: "The author examines the cultural gulf between the traditional working-class Londoner and the newer, more affluent Islington person who has moved into the area" (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021).
In a podcast discussion: "You can always spot an Islington person at a protest—they're the ones with the designer backpacks and strong views on organic kale" (Politics and Pints Podcast, March 2023).
10 Famous Quotes Using Islington Person
"A battle between Middle England—the sensible heart of the British middle classes—and the Islington person, the politically correct voice of the chattering classes." (Daily Mail, July 1994)
"The new cycle lane has sparked debate, with some local businesses claiming it will hurt trade, while an Islington person was quoted saying it's a necessary step for sustainable transport." (The Guardian, October 2023)
"He's not just a politician; he's a true Islington person, with all the right-on, slightly smug opinions you'd expect." (BBC, 2022)
"You can always spot an Islington person at a protest—they're the ones with the designer backpacks and strong views on organic kale." (Politics and Pints Podcast, March 2023)
"The author examines the cultural gulf between the traditional working-class Londoner and the newer, more affluent Islington person who has moved into the area." (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021)
"This area is a prime target for the wealthy Islington person looking to expand their property portfolio." (Property Observer, July 2024)
"She was the classic Islington person: a strong belief in social justice, but a housekeeper to do the actual cleaning." (Original quote)
"They are not just a Islington person, they are a person who lives in Islington." (Original quote)
"To be a true Islington person, one must have a well-thumbed copy of the Guardian and a subscription to a local organic vegetable box scheme." (Original quote)
"The divide between the working-class voter and the Islington person has become a central theme in recent British politics." (Original quote)
Etymology
The word "Islington person" is a compound term, meaning it's formed by combining two separate words: "Islington" and "person."
"Islington" is a place name, referring to a borough in North London, England. The name itself has a long history, dating back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Giseldone." The name is believed to mean "Gisla's hill," from an Old English personal name "Gisla" and "don," meaning hill.
The word "person" comes from the Old French persone, which itself is derived from the Latin persona, meaning a mask used by actors, and by extension, a character or an individual.
When you put them together, "Islington person" literally just means "a person from Islington." However, its modern use has evolved to carry a specific social and political connotation. While the phrase has likely been used casually for a long time, its more specific, loaded meaning—referring to a certain type of liberal, affluent, and sometimes stereotyped individual—began to gain prominence in British media and political discourse from the 1990s onward. This was largely due to the association of the area with the "New Labour" political movement and its prominent figures, who often lived in or were connected to the area. Therefore, the term's modern etymology is not just about its linguistic roots but also about its social and political evolution in a specific time and place.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Islington Person
The Islington person's dilemma
An Islington person's view
To speak like an Islington person
The Islington person effect
To have an Islingtonian worldview (using a related adjective)
An Islington resident's choice
The quintessential Islingtonian lifestyle
More Islington person than thou
The Islington set's latest fad
The Islington consensus
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Islington person from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
