sweet young thing
3
8.2
- noun
- Offensive
- He tossed me a smile of acknowledgment and then turned to the sweet young thing who held his arm so tightly she creased his suit.
Examples
-
Angel, dearest, why don't you see these sweet young things to their seats?
-
Watch that sweet young thing.
-
What about that sweet young thing who types for you?
-
Because some sweet young thing wants a family of her own.
Fiction book (2002) -
Check out this sweet young thing.
Fiction book (2000) -
What did Maverick say to that sweet young thing?
Fiction book (1994) -
And you can go and send me on my way; I said you're such a sweet young thing.
Blog text (21) -
You're going to bore this sweet young thing to death.
-
I see a sweet young thing whose sarong needs adjusting.
-
Everyone adored the kind and lively sweet young thing who brightened up the room.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A word you use to show love or affection to someone
∞
1.0
A person you love very much
991
2.8
A person you love or care for very much
604
1.0
A female person in her teens or twenties
462
1.0
A girl or young woman in her teens to early twenties
198
8.8
A young girl or young woman someone speaks to in a casual, slightly rude way
150
7.2
An attractive young person, usually a woman, described in a casual way
124
4.4
A woman or girl spoken to in a warm, slightly old-fashioned way
79
3.4
A person, animal, or thing people find lovable, like a small puppy
49
4.8
A girl or young woman
38
5.6
A young woman or a close female friend said in a friendly, playful way
21
9.5
A Scottish word for a girl or young woman
9
7.8
A small doll or a name for a sweet child
2
9.9
An old-fashioned name for a person you love or a small sweet apple
2
8.3
A friendly informal name someone uses for a romantic partner
1
4.7
An attractive, glamorous woman who draws attention
1
9.9
A friendly name used for a young or attractive woman
1
8.1
A loving name for someone you care about
Antonyms
How Attractive
- NSFW
59
3.0
- Offensive
3
8.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'sweet', 'young' and 'thing' can infer the basic sense 'a pleasing or attractive young person' because the adjectives combine straightforwardly with the noun. However, the use of 'thing' for a person and the pragmatic nuance (patronizing, diminutive or flirtatious tone) are not fully predictable from the parts, so full interpretation requires exposure.
Etymology
Sweet young thing began as a simple image: sweet meant pleasant or gentle, young showed youth, and thing could just mean a person, so it painted a picture of a pleasant, young person. That's why today it means 'an attractive and youthful person' and can sound caring or like someone is 'talking down to' them.