L'enfant terrible

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

L'enfant terrible (Terrible child) (also spelled enfant terrible) is a French term for a child who is terrifyingly candid by saying embarrassing things to adults, especially parents.

The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edn., gives the definition: "A child who embarrasses his elders by untimely remarks; transf. a person who compromises his associates or his party by unorthodox or ill-considered speech or behaviour; loosely, one who acts unconventionally."

The Webster's Dictionary also defines an enfant terrible as an unusual person who is strikingly unorthodox, innovative, and/or avant-garde.

[edit] Literature

Les Enfants Terribles (1929) is a novel by Jean Cocteau.

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages