problem child
The term "problem child" often refers to a young person who exhibits challenging behavior, but it can also be used more broadly to describe any consistently troublesome entity.
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Definition
B2Family and Education
(euphemistic, informal)A young person who is particularly difficult to raise or educate due to disruptive or antisocial behavior.
Example
- Teachers often struggle with a problem child who disrupts the classroom environment.
- Parenting a problem child can be emotionally and physically exhausting.
B2General Use
(idiomatic, informal)Someone or something that is persistently difficult or causes frequent trouble.
Example
- The new software update has become a problem child for the IT department.
- That old car is a problem child; it breaks down almost every week.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "problem child":