The phrase "Dear John letter" refers to a letter that a person receives to indicate that their romantic relationship has ended. The spelling of this phrase follows the regular English phonetic rules, with "Dear" pronounced as /dɪər/ and "John" as /dʒɒn/. The word "letter" is pronounced as /ˈlɛtər/. The phrase has become a popular idiom and is used to refer to any kind of correspondence that conveys bad news or rejection. Despite its popularity, "Dear John letter" is still commonly misspelled as "Dear Jonh letter" or "Deer John letter."
A "Dear John letter" is a colloquial term referring to a written or typed message, usually a letter, that is sent to someone from a romantic partner to end the relationship. This term is predominantly used to describe a letter written by a woman to a man, although it can be applied to any gender dynamic.
The phrase itself has its origins in military slang, where it was commonly used during wartime. Soldiers away from home would often receive such letters from their partners, informing them of the termination of their relationship. The phrase "Dear John" originated from the traditional salutation used at the beginning of these letters.
In contemporary usage, a "Dear John letter" serves as a direct and formal way to communicate the dissolution of a romantic bond. The letter generally conveys feelings of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or loss of interest from the sender, while also often providing reasons for the decision to break up. It is typically characterized by a mixture of compassion and finality, seeking closure for both parties involved.
Although "Dear John letters" are most commonly associated with ending romantic relationships, the term can also be extended to other types of relationships, such as professional or friendship contexts, where a written communication is used to announce the termination of an association.