enfant terrible

American  

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

noun

French.

enfants terribles plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• enfants terribles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of enfant terrible

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