bright young thing

Noun

 * 1)  One who is youthful, clever, eager, and high-spirited in manner and attractive in appearance.
 * 2) * 2007 Dec. 3, Janet Maslin, "Dear Alfred, Gertie and Mummy-snooks: Love, Noelie" (book review of The Letters of Noël Coward ), New York Times (retrieved 22 Aug 2014) :
 * As a bright young thing—which, it could be argued, is what he remained until almost his dying day—Noël Coward wrote letters filled with effusive glee.
 * 1)  Any of a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London.
 * 1) * 2007 Dec. 3, Janet Maslin, "Dear Alfred, Gertie and Mummy-snooks: Love, Noelie" (book review of The Letters of Noël Coward ), New York Times (retrieved 22 Aug 2014) :
 * As a bright young thing—which, it could be argued, is what he remained until almost his dying day—Noël Coward wrote letters filled with effusive glee.
 * 1)  Any of a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London.
 * As a bright young thing—which, it could be argued, is what he remained until almost his dying day—Noël Coward wrote letters filled with effusive glee.
 * 1)  Any of a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London.
 * 1)  Any of a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London.

Usage notes

 * Sometimes used condescendingly by older people.