Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Infested with fleas: Describes an animal, especially a horse or dog, that is covered with or suffering from fleas.
   • Shabby, dilapidated, or worn-out: Describes something, often fabric, furniture, or a place, that is in a very poor, neglected, or decrepit condition.
   • Spotted or speckled: In some contexts, particularly describing the coat of a horse, it can mean having a reddish or brownish coat sprinkled with small, darker spots.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The stray dog looked flea-bitten and hungry. (Describing an animal infested with fleas.)
  • They couldn't bring themselves to sit on the flea-bitten sofa in the old apartment. (Describing a shabby, worn-out piece of furniture.)
  • He bought a flea-bitten grey mare at the auction. (Describing a horse with a speckled coat pattern.)

Advanced Usage

• "flea-bitten" as a metaphor for neglect: Often used to emphasize extreme poverty, neglect, or a state of disrepair beyond simple age.
  • The once-grand hotel was now just a flea-bitten relic of a bygone era.
• Pejorative use for people or ideas: Can be used informally and disparagingly to describe a person or thing as contemptible, worthless, or of very low quality.
  • I won't listen to his flea-bitten excuses.

Variants and Related Words

• Flea (n): The small, wingless, jumping insect that feeds on blood.
• Fleabag (n, informal): A term for a shabby, dirty, or run-down place, especially a cheap hotel.
  • We stayed in a real fleabag on our last trip.
• Flea market (n): A market selling second-hand goods, antiques, and curiosities. (Note: This is a compound term listed separately as a variant).

Synonyms

• Shabby: In poor condition through long use or lack of care.
• Dilapidated: In a state of disrepair or ruin.
• Decrepit: Worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
• Mangy: Having mange (a skin disease), often used figuratively to mean shabby or squalid.
• Run-down: In a poor or neglected state.

Antonyms

• Pristine: In its original condition; unspoiled.
• Immaculate: Perfectly clean, neat, or tidy.
• Well-kept: Maintained in good condition.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Not give/care a flea": To not care at all. (Note: This is a related idiom, not a direct use of "flea-bitten").
  • He doesn't give a flea what they think of him.

Adjective

1. worn and broken down by hard use
   • a creaky shack
   • a decrepit bus...its seats held together with friction tape
   • a flea-bitten sofa
   • a run-down neighborhood
   • a woebegone old shack