New kid on the block

What's the meaning of the phrase 'New kid on the block'?

A new arrival in an area or in a group of young friends.

What's the origin of the phrase 'New kid on the block'?

Unsurprisingly, this phrase is of US origin. It is first seen there in the 1940s. The earliest citation I can find is in this ‘Skippy’ cartoon, by Percy Crosby, from The Lowell Sun And Citizen-Leader, December 1941.

See other phrases that were coined in the USA.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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