ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sweet summer child

idiom
Meaning

Someone who is naive, or who has never experienced hardship.


Origin

first recorded 20th c. disputed origin

As an idiomatic phrase, apparently from the fantasy novel A Game of Thrones (1996) by George R. R. Martin, although isolated prior occurrences of the phrase go back to the 1800s. In the novel, a young boy is called a "sweet summer child" by an old woman, since seasons last for years in the novel's world and he has yet to experience winter. Later popularized by its use in the episode "Lord Snow" (2011) of the television adaptation Game of Thrones.

Examples
SIMPLE

You think the boss will give you a raise? You sweet summer child.

CONTEXTUAL

The new intern expects to finish all this work by lunch, but he is a sweet summer child.

COMPLEX

Watching the young idealist believe the political system would change overnight, the veteran activist could only smile at the sweet summer child.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

  2. 02

    heavy with child

    visibly pregnant

  3. 03

    high summer

    The hottest part of the summer.

  4. 04

    home sweet home

    Expressing contentment or relief at residing in or returning to one's own home.

  5. 05

    keep someone sweet

    To keep someone friendly or satisfied by complying with their wishes or preferences.

  6. 06

    poster child

    One who is a prototypical or quintessential example of something.

  7. 07

    problem child

    Someone or something persistently difficult or vexing; a frequent source of trouble or annoyance.

  8. 08

    summer and winter

    To spend extended periods of time with; to test.

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