larrikin

A young larrikin is playfully causing a commotion in the street.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A hoodlum or young troublemaker: "larrikin" refers to a mischievous or unruly young person, often involved in rowdy or antisocial behaviour, especially in public places.
   • A boisterous or reckless youth: In Australian and New Zealand usage, a "larrikin" is a young person who is bold, irreverent, and prone to causing minor disturbances, but often viewed with a degree of affection or humour.

2. Adjective:

   • Rowdy or boorish: Describes behaviour that is noisy, rough, and lacking in manners, typical of a larrikin.
   • Loutish or vulgar: Characterised by loudness and a lack of refinement.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The old town was plagued by a gang of larrikins who vandalised shops. (A group of young troublemakers causing damage.)
  • He was known as a lovable larrikin, always playing pranks on his mates. (A mischievous but endearing young person.)

• Adjective:

  • His larrikin antics at the party annoyed the older guests. (His rowdy and boorish behaviour.)
  • She had a larrikin sense of humour that some found offensive. (A crude or vulgar style of humour.)

Advanced Usage

• "Larrikin spirit": A cultural concept in Australia and New Zealand that celebrates a rebellious, irreverent, and anti-authoritarian attitude, often seen as a positive trait of independence.

  • The film captures the larrikin spirit of early Australian settlers. (The rebellious and independent nature of the pioneers.)

• "Larrikinism" (n): The behaviour or attitudes characteristic of a larrikin; a tradition of playful defiance.

  • Larrikinism is often romanticised in Australian folklore. (The tradition of being a lovable troublemaker.)

Variants and Related Words

• Larrikinism (n): The quality or practice of being a larrikin.
  • His larrikinism made him popular among his peers but disliked by authority figures. (His tendency to be mischievous and rebellious.)

Synonyms

• Hooligan: a young person who engages in violent or destructive behaviour.
• Rascal: a mischievous or playful person, often a child.
• Rowdy: a noisy and disorderly person.
• Rebel: a person who resists authority or convention.

Phrasal Verbs

• (No direct phrasal verbs are commonly associated with "larrikin"; it is primarily used as a noun or adjective.)

Related Idioms

• "To run with the larrikins": To associate with a group of troublemakers or rebellious youths.

  • He got into trouble after he started running with the larrikins. (He began spending time with a rowdy crowd.)

• "A larrikin in the family": A humorous way to describe a family member who is mischievous or unconventional.

  • Every family has a larrikin, and ours is Uncle Joe. (A playful troublemaker in the family.)