boy wonder
13
5.6
- noun
- /bɔɪ ˈwʌndər/
- The young pianist was known as the boy wonder for his extraordinary talent at such a young age.
- a former boy wonder
- the boy wonder of American politics
- become a boy wonder
Examples
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Ah, the boy wonder.
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How's our boy wonder?
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Sometimes I feel like a boy wonder, myself.
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Ah, there he is, my boy wonder.
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Let's give it up for the boy wonder!
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What's the boy wonder want?
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Why don't you lead us, boy wonder?
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The new boy wonder.
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Elected attorney general of his state in 1976 and governor in 1978 at age 32, he was regarded as a "boy wonder."
Academic text (1996) -
Well, if it isn't Dodge Connelly, middle-aged boy wonder.
Synonyms
263
4.3
Very great natural talent for one area of work or study
51
6.7
A young person who is very talented in one area and impresses people
14
8.2
A young person who is very talented at something
11
7.3
A young person who is very good at business or technology
8
8.9
A young person with great skill and success in one area
Antonyms
How Talented
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from 'boy' (a young male) and 'wonder' (a remarkable or admirable thing/person): a young male who is remarkable or exceptionally talented. This simple compositional pattern is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The noun boy wonder may come from old news stories that called a very talented child a boy who inspired wonder, because people were 'amazed' by his skill. So, boy wonder means a young male who is unusually talented.