flea-bitten

/flea-bitten/
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flea-bitten

A flea-bitten sofa sits in the corner of the attic.

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.
flea-bitten

A flea-bitten sofa sits in the corner of the attic.

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

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