snot-nosed
UK[ˈsnɒt nəʊzd]US[ˈsnɑːt noʊzd]
adj
(informal, disapproving) used to describe a child or young person who is annoying because they are rude, lack experience, or think they know everything.
Morpheme Breakdown
snot
nosed
snot
nasal mucus
nosed
having a nose
Etymology
the compound adjective 'snot-nosed' is a vivid, informal term rooted in the physical realities of childhood. its first element, 'snot', derives from old english, a word of ancient germanic lineage referring to nasal mucus, a substance commonly associated with young, uncared-for children. the second element, 'nosed', simply means 'having a nose', completing the literal image. over time, this literal descriptor of a child with a dirty nose evolved metaphorically into a pejorative term, implying immaturity, insolence, and inexperience, capturing the contempt an older person might feel toward a presumptuous youth.
Analysis
Structure: snot (nasal mucus) + nosed (having a nose)
snot (from old english 'gesnot', of germanic origin, meaning nasal mucus); nosed (from old english 'nosu', of germanic origin, with the suffix '-ed' meaning 'having').
Examples
that snot-nosed kid just told me how to do my job.
i'm not taking orders from some snot-nosed junior analyst.
he was just a snot-nosed teenager when he started the company.