whippersnapper en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Extension of *whip-snapper (“a cracker of whips”), or perhaps from snipper-snapper. Compare also whipperginnie (“term of abuse for a woman”), late 16th c.
Meanings
-
(colloquial) A young and cheeky or presumptuous person; often with a connotation of ignorance via inexperience.
These whippersnappers have never had to walk far or carry water.
Eisenhower thought that the President-elect, his junior by over 25 years, was merely a "young whippersnapper."
2004, Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage:"Throw me a nine iron Fatman, I want to make sure of getting inside you young whippersnappers."
1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 34:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| whippersnappers | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| whipper snapper | alternative | lexicographic | |
| whipper-snapper | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
upstart · spring chicken · youngster
Translations (38)
es mequetrefe (young, cheeky person) · sk nafúkanec (young, cheeky person) · is oflátungur (young, cheeky person) · sh uobraženko (young, cheeky person) · nb liten viktigper (young, cheeky person) · nb snørrhvalp (young, cheeky person) · bg калпазан (young, cheeky person) · de Lümmel (young, cheeky person) · af japsnoet (young, cheeky person) · ja 青二才 (young, cheeky person) · is merkikerti (young, cheeky person) · it piccolo impertinente (young, cheeky person) · sv snorvalp (young, cheeky person) · es chisgarabís (young, cheeky person) · bg калпазанин (young, cheeky person) · nl branie (young, cheeky person) · cs machýrek (young, cheeky person) · sv pojkspoling (young, cheeky person) · pt metido (young, cheeky person) · nb spjert (young, cheeky person) · es pollastre (young, cheeky person) · de Bengel (young, cheeky person) · es arrapiezo (young, cheeky person) · nl broekie (young, cheeky person) · fi märkäkorva (young, cheeky person) · pl chłystek (young, cheeky person) · cs náfuka (young, cheeky person) · nb sprade (young, cheeky person) · nl snotneus (young, cheeky person) · de junger Spund (young, cheeky person) · la frustum puerī (young, cheeky person) · nb spirevipp (young, cheeky person) · sv flicksnärta (young, cheeky person) · de Jungspund (young, cheeky person) · es chiquilicuatre (young, cheeky person) · fi räkänokka (young, cheeky person) · nb ung spradebasse (young, cheeky person) · cs nafoukanec (young, cheeky person)