What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
noun
dated, informalA clumsy or awkward youth.
- ‘He looked frankly what he was - a hobbledehoy - though he made great efforts to seem grown up.’
- ‘It listed the views of various members of Congress: not any old hobbledehoys either, but the party leaders, mostly Republican, whose support would be crucial to the political viability of any Pentagon plan.’
- ‘The true hobbledehoy is much alone, not being greatly given to social intercourse even with other hobbledehoys.’
lout, boor, barbarian, neanderthal, churl, clown, gawk, hulk, bumpkin, yokelView synonyms
adjective
dated, informalAwkward or clumsy.
‘his hobbledehoy hands’
Origin
Mid 16th century: of unknown origin.
