the boy next door

the girl/boy next door

1. An ordinary person from typical circumstances, as opposed to someone with an elite or exceptional life. With the accessibility of technology now, the next billionaire could be the boy next door—you never know!
2. A (typically young) person with whom one is familiar, such as a neighbor (hence "next door"), or who exudes such familiarity, and who exemplifies a certain stereotype of wholesomeness, approachability, and well-roundedness, while perhaps being a source of latent romantic attraction due to a fondness resulting from such familiarity. Interpretations vary as to what exactly makes someone fit this description. Mary was always the girl next door, but when I came home from college I realized I was in love with her.
See also: boy, door, girl, next
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the boy next door

or

the girl next door

If you describe someone as the boy next door or the girl next door, you mean that they are pleasant and ordinary. He was dependable, straightforward, the boy next door. She was the girl next door type.
See also: boy, door, next
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the boy (or girl) next door

a person or the type of a person perceived as familiar, approachable, and dependable, typically in the context of a romantic partnership.
See also: boy, door, next
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the girl/boy next door
  • life after (something)
  • rough diamond
  • a rough diamond
  • humdinger
  • diamond in the rough
  • diamond in the rough, a
  • big hitter
  • Xs
References in periodicals archive
| Clockwise from top left: Jennifer Lopez with George Clooney in the film that |made her a star Out Of Sight, performing at one of her gigs and at close quarters with Brian Guzman as the pupil she has an affair within thriller The Boy Next Door
Livin' la vida Lopez; Singer-dancer-actress-producer Jennifer Lopez doesn't do things by halves - including sex scenes. JEANANNE CRAIG finds out why the mum-of-two turned down a body double for her latest movie
"The Boy Next Door" doesn't really get gripping, except when those two are together, the interest culminating at the toecurling consummation part.
'Birdman': Timeliness, timelessness
"The Boy Next Door" is directed by Rob Cohen and is one of the highly anticipated films of the year.
'The Boy Next Door' Couple, Jennifer Lopez And Ryan Guzman, To Host Episodes Of 'Snapped'
Set in San Francisco, Lola and the Boy Next Door is a classic romance triangle.
Perkins, Stephanie: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Then, youngest sister Beth nearly drowns and thirteen-year-old Grace meets Frankie, the boy next door. Suddenly the small town, weird relatives, and long summer take on a different perspective.
St. Anthony, Jane. Grace Above All
e weekend's at least similarly Hero gae a THE BOY NEXT DOOR (15) .....
best of the rest
THE BOY NEXT DOOR C5 3.15PM PREMIERE Don't get excited, it's not the new Jennifer Lopez movie.
TUESDAY
Add to that a younger contingent who don't take J.Lo's acting career all that seriously--those connoisseurs of camp who helped push "The Boy Next Door" to a nearly $15 million opening weekend --and there's a substantial audience out there for this cleverly conceived, earnestly executed throwback to late-'80s female-driven thrillers.
Lila and Eve
Jennifer Lopez recently opened up about her intense scenes in the film "The Boy Next Door." The 45-year-old actress reportedly did not use a body double and did the bedroom scene with actor Ryan Guzman, by herself.
Jennifer Lopez's Sex Scene In 'The Boy Next Door': Actress Reveals She Did Not Use A Body Double
"When the war memorials went up they weren't just names, they were the boy next door, the man you sat next to in the pub and what we want to do is have that information on our website to make this come alive for the younger generation."
Region's war names mission
When the war memorials went up they weren't just names, they were the boy next door, the man you sat next to in the pub and what we want to do is have that information on our website to make this come alive for the younger generation." The project received funding from the Heritage Lottery in 2004 and the group is now seeking funds to maintain their website each year.
Bid to document every GreatWar hero
Waad Mohammed, a 12-year-old raised in Riyadh, gives a remarkable performance as the enterprising Wadjda, a young girl who is aware of these constraints, yet still wants to defy them to get hold of a bike to race the boy next door. It is an interesting contradiction that so innocent a pleasure can be seen as so provocative.
Flatpack Festival final countdown
As the situation worsens, Jenna-Bell is forced to leave her exclusive school, her friends refuse to be associated with her and Declan, the boy next door, remains her only real true friend.
Brugman, Alyssa: Girl Next Door
My mom's best friend growing up was the boy next door, and he's gay.
Ohio's straight ally: David Caldwell has been knocking on doors to tell voters that legalized gay relationships are no threat to his marriage