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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWhippersnapper: urban or rural legend, or people use to say that ?
Do some people still say that, being serious ?
I know we joke around and say "you whippersnapper" but did people REALLY say that ?
I never heard it growing up, except in jest.
Xyzse
(8,217 posts)I think it's funny.
Heck, I use it to describe the 20something and below pop stars and artists, just because I can...
I even used to call the kids, ankle-biters.
Which is awesome.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I've never said it seriously, as in "What's wrong with these damn young whippersnappers today ? Get off my lawn! You, cloud there, stop looking at me!"
Xyzse
(8,217 posts)I am sure I'll use it one day... Maybe.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)people say it seriously?"
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I've never known anyone to say it in an irritated or angry way. Only in jest.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)My irritation was misdirected that day, so my apologies.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)removed from a genuine expletive
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/whipper-snapper.html
'Whipper snappers' were known by various names, all of them derived from the habit of young layabouts of hanging around snapping whips to pass the time. Originally these ne'er-do-wells were known simply, and without any great linguistic imagination, as 'whip snappers'. This term merged with an existing 17th century term for street rogues - 'snipper snappers', to become 'whipper snapper'. Christopher Marlowe mentions 'snipper snapper' in the 1604 edition of The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus, when referring to a 'hey-pass', which is what street jugglers were known as in Marlowe's day.
But I'll seeke out my Doctor... O yonder is his snipper snapper... You, hey-pass, where's your master?
The meaning of 'whipper snapper' has altered over the years, originally referring to a young man with no apparent get up and go, to be applied to a youngster with an excess of both ambition and impudence