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Glite Dictionary
to have a way with children

to have a way with children

1 3.7
To work well with children so they feel comfortable
  • idiom
translation icon : tener don con los niños
  • You can tell she has a way with children because they always seem happy and excited around her.

Examples

  • Yes, you certainly do have a way with children, Duchess.

    The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976)

  • You certainly have a way with children, Duchess.

    The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976)

  • "You have a way with children, Ambassador Worf."

    Fiction book (1992)

  • She truly has a way with children, effortlessly communicating with them during the school event.

  • Teachers often say that he has a way with children that makes learning fun and engaging.

Antonyms

to struggle
139 2.7

To fight against someone or something, often with great effort

Surface Forms

have a way with children infinitive
had a way with children past
had a way with children past participle
having a way with children present participle
has a way with children third person singular

Morphology

have + a + way + with + child

The phrase composes directly from 'have' (to possess) + 'a way' (a manner or method) + 'with children' (in relation to children), so a learner can infer 'to possess a particular manner or skill in dealing with children.' This pattern is cross-linguistically common and involves no strong metaphorical shift, making the meaning predictable for a B1 learner who knows the parts.

Etymology

The phrase have a way with children comes from the idea of having a special way with children, a calm, kind method that makes kids feel safe and want to listen. So, it means 'to be good with children'.