hellion

/'heljən/

Thân thiện

A young hellion runs across the neighbor's lawn while holding a water balloon.

Definition

Noun: A hellion is a person, typically a young person, who is very rowdy, mischievous, troublesome, or difficult to control.

Usage

The word "hellion" is used to describe someone, often a child or teenager, whose behavior is wild, disruptive, or naughty. It carries a tone of exasperation but is not typically considered a highly offensive term. It is more common in informal or colloquial American English.

Examples

• The teacher had a hard time managing the little hellion in the back of the class.
• As a teenager, he was a real hellion, always getting into trouble.
• The neighbors complained about the hellions next door who played loud music late at night.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be used with a degree of affectionate frustration, especially when referring to a mischievous but ultimately harmless child.
  • "My son is a sweet little hellion—he's always full of energy and getting into things."

Variants and Related Words

• Hell-raising (adj/n): Engaging in or characterized by wild, disruptive behavior.
  • He had a hell-raising youth.

Synonyms

• Troublemaker
• Rascal
• Scamp
• Hooligan (implies more deliberate malice or violence)
• Delinquent (implies more serious, often illegal, misbehavior)

Antonyms

• Angel
• Saint
• Well-behaved child

Idioms and Phrases

• A holy terror: A very mischievous or uncontrollable child (similar in meaning and usage).
  • Her two-year-old is a holy terror in supermarkets.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man)
   • he chased the young hellions out of his yard

Từ đồng nghĩa

• heller
• devil