puppy fat
Noun: * Excess body fat on a child or young teenager that is typically lost as they grow and mature: "Puppy fat" refers to the soft, rounded body shape and extra fat that is common in children and young adolescents, which usually diminishes naturally as they enter adulthood and their metabolism changes.
"Puppy fat" is a colloquial and often affectionate term. It is generally used to describe a child's temporary, natural plumpness, implying it is not a permanent condition. It is most commonly used by adults (e.g., parents, relatives) when talking about a child, rather than directly to them.
- Noun:
- Don't worry about her being a little chubby now; it's just puppy fat and she'll grow out of it.
- He had a round face full of puppy fat that made him look younger than he was.
- Many teenagers feel self-conscious about their puppy fat before their growth spurt.
- "to have puppy fat": to be in the temporary state of having this childhood plumpness.
- At twelve, she still had a bit of puppy fat around her cheeks.
- "to lose/shed one's puppy fat": to naturally grow out of this phase as one matures.
- He finally shed his puppy fat when he turned sixteen and started playing sports regularly.
- Baby fat (noun): A near-synonymous term more commonly used in American English, often referring to the plumpness of infants and very young children.
- The baby's adorable rolls are just baby fat.
- Childhood plumpness: A more neutral, descriptive phrase.
- Baby fat: (See Variants and Related Words).
While "puppy fat" and "baby fat" are often used interchangeably, some speakers make a subtle distinction: * Puppy fat may more specifically refer to the fat present in older children and young teenagers. * Baby fat often refers to the fat on infants and toddlers. The term carries a connotation of natural, temporary, and often endearing chubbiness, in contrast to terms for adult obesity.
- fat on the body of a baby or child; disappears at adolescence