have-a-go hero
n.— «Mr. Smeaton’s celebrity reflects the general relief across Britain that no one was injured in the Glasgow attack, or in the previous day’s attempt to detonate two cars in London. His description of the attack in early news videos showed him as what the Brits call a “have-a-go hero,” basically a selfless everyman.» —“Meet John Smeaton: One Kick and He Is The Hero of Glasgow” by Alistair MacDonald, Ian McDonald in Glasgow, Scotland Wall Street Journal July 7, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Mike in Glasgow, Kentucky, wonders about a catchphrase used in British comedies: I go to the foot of the stairs. The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases (Amazon) compiled by Anna Farkas and several books by catchphrase collector Nigel Rees both point...
What do you call a long sandwich filled with lots of ingredients? Whether you call it a sub, a hoagie, a grinder, or something else entirely depends on where you’re from. And: Martha’s visit to an Alaskan reindeer ranch reveals why you...