Spoiled brat

Spoiled brat

A spoiled brat (alternatively spelled spoilt brat) is a child who believes that they are superior to others around them, usually as a result of their parents and/or other educators systematically failing to teach socially acceptable behavior and discipline. The term also carries the connotation of the child's being privileged, as well as seldom being subjected to consequences of his or her actions. However, a child could be perfectly behaved and still be called a brat in a derogatory manner.

Word history

The word "brat" is recorded in the English language since circa 1505, as slang for "beggar's child", originally northern, Midlands and western England dialect "makeshift or ragged garment", probably the same word as Old English "bratt" "cloak", from a Celtic source (cfr. Old Irish "bratt" "cloak, cloth"). The modern meaning of mischievous kid is perhaps from the notion of "child's apron". The adjective "bratty" was first recorded in 1961 by Lexi Bigg as Punk Faced Brat. [ [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=brat&searchmode=none EtymologyOnLine] URL accessed February 15, 2006.]

Archetypical image of spoiled brats

The stereotypical spoiled brat is a child that comes from a rich or well-to-do family. In fiction there are also stereotypical exterior characteristics. In popular culture, they are often portrayed as being "princess-like" or using stereotypical images of cheerleaders, "popular kids" and Valley Girls.

Terminology

A similar but more embracing term is that of a spoiled child, which only indicates that it is overindulged, but contrary to the brat is not necessarily misbehaving as a result; in a happy family a parent may even jocularly say something like "you're so spoiled, aren't you?" to a well-behaved child when he or she gets a treat or gift.

During the Cold War France was recovering its wealth and began large economic reforms from the aftermath of World War II. Because of this, the term "enfant gâté" (spoiled child) is quite common there. The term is mainly used for those French who were born at the time when France had recovered a lot of its economy and wealth, and for their children, who make up most of the underage population of France today.Fact|date=February 2007 In Dutch, "verwend nest" (verwend means spoiled) only applies to girls.

References

See also

* Ramy "Spoiled" Salama
* School diva
* Military brat
* Stock character
* Veruca Salt
* Angelica Pickles
* Alisa Strikas
* Bart Simpson
* Draco Malfoy
* D.W. Read
* Lucy van Pelt
* Dudley Dursley
* Preston Latimer
* Spoilt Bastard


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • spoiled brat — a child who always gets what he wants    Sure he s a spoiled brat. His mom gave him whatever he wanted …   English idioms

  • spoiled brat — noun A child who always gets what he/she wants …   Wiktionary

  • brat — [bræt] n informal [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Perhaps from brat rough or torn piece of clothing (10 20 centuries), from Old Irish bratt cloak ] 1.) a badly behaved child ▪ a spoiled brat 2.) Army/Navy/military etc brat …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • brat — [ bræt ] noun count INFORMAL an annoying child who behaves badly: Stop acting like a spoiled brat! a. an insulting word for a child: I hope they don t bring their brats …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • brat — n. (colloq.) 1) a spoiled brat 2) an Army brat ( child in an Army family ) * * * [bræt] (colloq.) a spoiled brat an Army brat ( child in an Army family ) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • Brat — The word Brat has several meanings:*spoiled brat *military brat *Brat Pack, a slang term for a group of young actors in the 1980s who made several movies together *Da Brat, a rapper popular in the 1990s * Brother (1997 film) and Brother 2 ,… …   Wikipedia

  • spoiled — usually spoilt BrE adjective 1 someone, especially a child, who is spoiled is rude and behaves badly because their parents have always given them what they want and allowed them to do what they want: spoiled brat (=spoiled, annoying child) |… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • brat — UK [bræt] / US noun [countable] Word forms brat : singular brat plural brats informal a) an annoying child who behaves badly Stop acting like a spoiled brat! b) an insulting word for a child I hope they don t bring their brats …   English dictionary

  • brat — /bræt / (say brat) noun 1. (derogatory) a child. 2. a badly behaved child: a spoiled brat. {compare dialect brat rag, trash, Old English bratt cloak} …  

  • brat — noun Etymology: perhaps from English dialect brat coarse garment Date: circa 1505 1. a. child; specifically an ill mannered annoying child < a spoiled brat > b. an ill mannered …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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