Whippersnapper
noun
A young and inexperienced person who is regarded as presumptuous or overly confident.
That whippersnapper thinks he knows everything about technology just because he runs a small website.
Often appears as...
- young whippersnapper
- arrogant whippersnapper
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A young and inexperienced person who is regarded as presumptuous or overly confident.
That whippersnapper thinks he knows everything about technology just because he runs a small website.
Often appears as...
- young whippersnapper
- arrogant whippersnapper
Usage tips
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Colloquialism
Used more in older generations; may not resonate with younger audiences who prefer contemporary slang.
Grandpa called the new intern a whippersnapper for trying to change the old filing system.
Pro Tip 2/3Mildly Disparaging
Often used in a playful or mild rebuke, not usually to seriously insult someone.
The teacher smiled and called the most outspoken student a little whippersnapper.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Professional Settings
Avoid in formal or professional contexts; it's casual and might seem unprofessional or patronizing.
In the board meeting, referring to the young CEO as a whippersnapper wouldn't be appropriate.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Colloquialism
Used more in older generations; may not resonate with younger audiences who prefer contemporary slang.
Grandpa called the new intern a whippersnapper for trying to change the old filing system.
Pro Tip 2/3Mildly Disparaging
Often used in a playful or mild rebuke, not usually to seriously insult someone.
The teacher smiled and called the most outspoken student a little whippersnapper.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Professional Settings
Avoid in formal or professional contexts; it's casual and might seem unprofessional or patronizing.
In the board meeting, referring to the young CEO as a whippersnapper wouldn't be appropriate.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Colloquialism
Used more in older generations; may not resonate with younger audiences who prefer contemporary slang.
Grandpa called the new intern a whippersnapper for trying to change the old filing system.
Pro Tip 2/3Mildly Disparaging
Often used in a playful or mild rebuke, not usually to seriously insult someone.
The teacher smiled and called the most outspoken student a little whippersnapper.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for Professional Settings
Avoid in formal or professional contexts; it's casual and might seem unprofessional or patronizing.
In the board meeting, referring to the young CEO as a whippersnapper wouldn't be appropriate.
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Video examples
Erin McKean: Go ahead,...
to discourage people from making up words. And I think that is, well, stupid. So, for example, people are always telling you, "Be creative, make new music, do art, invent things, science and technology." But when it comes to words, they're like, "Don't! No. Creativity stops right here, whippersnappers. Give it a rest."
Video examples
Adventures in...
young whippersnapper who can barely grow facial hair to come give you a talk. And that is a perfectly valid question. The state of my facial hair, is, quite frankly, embarrassing. So I guess I'll start from the beginning to kind of set things into context.
Video examples
Erin McKean: Go ahead,...
to discourage people from making up words. And I think that is, well, stupid. So, for example, people are always telling you, "Be creative, make new music, do art, invent things, science and technology." But when it comes to words, they're like, "Don't! No. Creativity stops right here, whippersnappers. Give it a rest."
Video examples
Adventures in...
young whippersnapper who can barely grow facial hair to come give you a talk. And that is a perfectly valid question. The state of my facial hair, is, quite frankly, embarrassing. So I guess I'll start from the beginning to kind of set things into context.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Frank Deford
American Writer
How did females become 'guys?' How did everyone become 'guys?' Remember, too, that a male guy was something of a scoundrel. And a wise guy was a fresh kid, a whippersnapper. In its most other famous evocation, men in Brooklyn said 'youse guys.' Damon Runyon referred to hustlers, gamblers, and other nefarious types as guys.
Quote examples
Jessica Valenti
American Writer
In 2008, I was one of the young feminist whippersnappers who voted for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries - or as many of my older counterparts called me at the time, a traitor.
Quote examples
Letitia Baldrige
American Writer
CEOs are called by their first names by young whippersnappers. That makes everybody uncomfortable. We need order and structure back in the workplace.
Quote examples
Chesney Hawkes
I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in pubs playing Barry Manilow songs. I didn't know what to expect.
Quote examples
Vanessa Hudgens
American Actress
I have a toy poodle, Shadow. She's a little whippersnapper! And I love little monkeys.
Quote examples
Frank Deford
American Writer
How did females become 'guys?' How did everyone become 'guys?' Remember, too, that a male guy was something of a scoundrel. And a wise guy was a fresh kid, a whippersnapper. In its most other famous evocation, men in Brooklyn said 'youse guys.' Damon Runyon referred to hustlers, gamblers, and other nefarious types as guys.
Quote examples
Jessica Valenti
American Writer
In 2008, I was one of the young feminist whippersnappers who voted for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries - or as many of my older counterparts called me at the time, a traitor.
Quote examples
Letitia Baldrige
American Writer
CEOs are called by their first names by young whippersnappers. That makes everybody uncomfortable. We need order and structure back in the workplace.
Quote examples
Chesney Hawkes
I was only a young whippersnapper at that point. I was in pubs playing Barry Manilow songs. I didn't know what to expect.
Quote examples
Vanessa Hudgens
American Actress
I have a toy poodle, Shadow. She's a little whippersnapper! And I love little monkeys.
Example 1 of 5
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