Peck's Bad Boy

noun

1. the mischievous boy in a series of newspaper stories and collected volumes by the American newspaperman and humorist George Wilbur Peck (1840–1916).
2. Usually Peck's bad boy.
   1. any mischievous boy.
   2. a recalcitrant person or organization.

Example Sentences

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote of North’s testimony, “Through the smirks and winks and teary eyes, through the ‘Peck’s Bad Boy’ grins and the earnest altar-boy gazes, Oliver North seemed, as always, to be starring in his own movie.”

From Washington Post

“I was watching his facial expressions, and I said to my wife, ‘This is Peck’s Bad Boy,’” Ekman said.

From Literature

She is also a great-great-granddaughter of George Wilbur Peck, who was the author of the “Peck’s Bad Boy” series and who was the governor of Wisconsin from 1891 to 1895.

From New York Times

That "Peck's Bad Boy" essence he exudes, which produces an odd kind of likability, is not transferable.

From US News

Nicknames have already become common, and we have among us such worthies as Fat, Doc, Peck’s Bad Boy, Toney, Binkie, Shortie, Shrimp, Simp and Pop.

From Project Gutenberg