Meaning

New kid on the block

The meaning of the phrase

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

Pronunciation
New kid on the block

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.

Examples of use

  • Let's go and play with him. Its hard being the new kid on the block.

UsageWorldwide.

From the Phrase Finder idioms collection, written by Gary Martin.

Historical trend

“New kid on the block” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1960–2020).

1960198020002020
  • New kid on the block

Sources

  1. Percy Crosby, Skippy cartoon in The Lowell Sun and Citizen-Leader (December 1941) · earliest citation the page could find