naughty list en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈnɔːti lɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈnɔti lɪst/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Certainly connected with, and possibly derived from, the lyrics of a Christmas carol, "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town": He's makin a list / and checkin it twice / He's gonna find out / who's naughty or nice
Meanings
- According to Christmas folklore, a list kept by Santa Claus of children who have been naughty, and who will therefore not be given as many presents; kept in conjunction with the antithetical nice list.
-
(broadly) Any hypothetical list of naughty people.
You don't want to get on the FBI's naughty list.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| naughty lists | Number=Plur | lexicographic |