yard ape
- noun
- Slang
:
chiquillo travieso
- My nephew is a real yard ape—he never seems to run out of energy.
Examples
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She's always been a bit of a yard ape, climbing everything in sight.
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That little yard ape is always causing trouble!
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During the summer, the park is full of yard apes playing tag and yelling.
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The yard ape climbed the tree with ease.
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During the summer, the park is full of yard apes playing tag and yelling.
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My nephew is a real yard ape—he never seems to run out of energy.
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That little yard ape is always causing trouble!
Synonyms
339
4.1
A playful child who likes to play tricks
43
6.0
A lively energetic child who runs and plays a lot
1
8.2
A boy who is playful, energetic and a little naughty
1
8.2
A small child who makes trouble in a playful way
A child who is very dirty after playing outside
How Mischievous
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core idea is partially inferable because 'ape' is often used metaphorically for a playful or naughty person (as in 'little ape' or similar animal nicknames), so a learner who knows both words could guess a childlike, mischievous sense. However, the role of 'yard' and the informal/slangy nuance (and possible regional usage) are not fully predictable from the constituents, so the exact meaning and pragmatic tone would likely require exposure.
Etymology
Yard ape paints a simple picture: a child who climbs and runs in the yard like a small ape, always full of energy and causing trouble. That's why the phrase means a 'lively' or 'mischievous' child.