sweet young thing

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

sweet young thing (plural sweet young things)

1. (idiomatic) An attractive young woman.

   I just know he's off spending the night with some sweet young thing he picked up in a bar.

2. (idiomatic) A sweet-tempered young woman.
   • 1908, Henry James, chapter XVIII, in The Portrait of a Lady (The Novels and Tales of Henry James; III), New York edition, volume I, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 264:

     Isabel's a sweet young thing; but do you think she's so good as that?

Usage notes

• Sometimes used condescendingly by older people.

See also

• bright young thing