whippersnapper

Definition

A young and cheeky or presumptuous person; often with a connotation of ignorance via inexperience.

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.

Example Sentences

• "These whippersnappers have never had to walk far or carry water."
• ""Throw me a nine iron Fatman, I want to make sure of getting inside you young whippersnappers.""
• "Eisenhower thought that the President-elect, his junior by over 25 years, was merely a "young whippersnapper.""

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