# cradle robber

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cradle-robber
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger, or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.

## Examples

- People often call him a cradle robber because his girlfriend is so young.
- When the fifty-year-old actor started dating a college student, the tabloids immediately labeled him a cradle robber.
- Despite his claims of a deep intellectual connection, his peers whispered that he was nothing more than a cradle robber seeking to recapture his lost youth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.