enfant terrible
Say it: on-fon teh-REE-bluh /ˌɒ̃fɒ̃ tɛˈriːblə/ · noun phrase
What “enfant terrible” means
A brilliant rebel whose shocking behaviour upsets established people.
More precisely: A brilliant person whose shocking or unconventional behaviour upsets the establishment.
Example: “The chef was the enfant terrible of London's food scene in the nineties.”
When to use it
For a talented person who scandalises their field, often in arts commentary with a mixture of admiration and disapproval.
Similar words
maverick, provocateur, rebel
Where it comes from
French, 'terrible child'.
Quick check
A gifted designer shocks senior colleagues by staging a brilliant fashion show in a scrapyard. They become the industry's…
enfant terrible or prodigy?
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enfant terrible
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