enfant terrible

American  

[ahn-fahn te-ree-bl^uh] / ɑ̃ fɑ̃ tɛˈri blə /

noun

French.

plural

enfants terribles

1. an incorrigible child, as one whose behavior is embarrassing.

2. an outrageously outspoken or bold person who says and does indiscreet or irresponsible things.

3. a person whose work, thought, or lifestyle is so unconventional or avant-garde as to appear revolutionary or shocking.

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enfant terrible British  

/ ɑ̃fɑ̃ tɛriblə /

noun

1. a person given to unconventional conduct or indiscreet remarks

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enfant terrible Cultural  

1. A person who stirs things up in an irresponsible or indiscreet way or has unconventional ideas: “Doctor Hill keeps writing articles that criticize his fellow physicians; he is becoming known as the enfant terrible of his profession.” From French, meaning “terrible child.”

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Etymology

Origin of enfant terrible

First recorded in 1850–55; literally, “terrible child”

Example Sentences

A transitional film to get him out of the enfant terrible period of his earliest work, “Punch Drunk Love” remains a fulcrum point in Anderson’s career.

From Los Angeles Times

The Times covered his attacks on fellow clergy, writing in 1991 that MacArthur turned into the “enfant terrible of conservative Protestantism.”

From Los Angeles Times

Still peripherally engaged in the literary scene, Soon encounters an aging author named Echo, the “enfant terrible of South Korean letters,” whose novels are finally being translated into English by a small press.

From Los Angeles Times

“Do you know this French term enfant terrible? That’s what I was,” he said with a mischievous smile.

From Los Angeles Times

As one experienced writer/producer told me, "being an enfant terrible is still rewarded."

From Salon