[Ads-l] little monster

[Jonathan Lighter]

The semi-jocular term for an irritating child. Not in OED.

1826 [W. P. Scargill] _Truth: A Novel_ (London: Hunt and Clarke) I 97: On
my soul, I pity children! They are in general either fondled as foolish
pets, or repelled as little monsters.

1833 _Pawtucket Chronicle_ (Sept. 13) 1: ""Tis useless, you little
monster," said her mother.

Etc.

JL
-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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