Entry 1
Ankle biter
MeaningA slang term for small child.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Janice is pregnant again. With the twins still only two there's soon going to be three ankle biters around the place.
Pronunciation
Idioms · 9 entries
Childhood
What does "Childhood" mean?
A slang term for small child.
Ankle biter
USA, 19th century.
Brum brum
Children should be seen and not heard
Gee gee
Little devil!
Britain - 17th century.
New kid on the block
USA, mid 20th century.
Ups a daisy
America, 20th century. The expression sounds old and English, but it isn’t.
Wet behind the ears
Britain, 1910s
Whipper snapper
Entry 2
Brum brum
MeaningChild's play idiom expressing the sound of a vehicle.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Mummy, my toy train goes chuff, chuff, chuff and my car goes brum, brum.
Pronunciation
Entry 3
Children should be seen and not heard
MeaningOld proverb suggesting that children should not impinge on the adult world.
Usage Rarely used seriously any longer. Now more likely be heard in black and white movies than in real life.
Example
- Grandma is a bit strict. We shouldn't judge her though - things were tougher in her childhood. She was expected to be seen and not heard.
Pronunciation
Entry 4
Gee gee
MeaningChildish term for a horse.
Usage Widely used, but more in the UK than elsewhere and mainly in conversation with small children.
Example
- Now Jimmy, whats that picture? Is it a bar lamb or is it a gee-gee?
Pronunciation
Entry 5
Little devil!
MeaningAn exclamation of surprise and annoyance, directed at someone who has behaved badly or performed some kind of prank. Often applied to children.
Usage Mostly Britain, but used occasionally elsewhere too.
Example
- Do you know what those little devils from next door have done now? They've tied the doorknob to the gatepost and I can't get out.
Pronunciation
Entry 6
New kid on the block
MeaningSomeone new to the group or area.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Let's go and play with him. Its hard being the new kid on the block.
Pronunciation
Entry 7
Ups a daisy
MeaningA saying, usually to a child, after a stumble or fall, to encourage them to get up. (ups is a variant of whoops).
Usage Worldwide, but considered dated and coy by many.
Example
- Ooh, Tommy the toddler, fallen over again have you? Never mind - ups a daisy and let's try again.
Pronunciation
Entry 8
Wet behind the ears
MeaningYoung and naive, like a new-born baby.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- That Justin Bieber; he thinks he's all grown up but he's really pretty wet behind the ears.
Pronunciation
Entry 9
Whipper snapper
MeaningA child or impertinent youth.
Usage Widely used but a little old fashioned.
Example
- The fourth form have challenged the teachers to a tug of war. We can't lose against a bunch of kids - let's show those whipper snappers how it's done.
Pronunciation