fair-haired boy
Someone who is given preferential treatment. The phrase does not have to describe a young male, despite using the word "boy." My oldest brother is definitely the fair-haired boy in our family—he can do no wrong as far as our parents are concerned. The world-famous rapper is always treated like a fair-haired boy when he comes to the casino, given the very finest food, drink, and entertainment. Considering what little experience Philip has in politics, how has he become the fair-haired boy in the party all of a sudden?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
fair-haired boy
Fig. a favored person. (Not necessarily young or a boy.) The teacher's fair-haired boy always does well on tests. The supervisor's son was the fair-haired boy on the construction site.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
fair-haired boy
A favorite, a person who is given special treatment. For example, Today the attorney general is the governor's fair-haired boy. This term alludes to the preference of blond ("fair") hair over dark hair. [Late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fair-haired boy
n. a promising young man; a young man who receives favoritism. Ted is the boss’s fair-haired boy now, but he’ll be just like the rest of us in a month.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
fair-haired boy
The current favorite, the individual singled out for special treatment. This male counterpart of “gentlemen prefer blondes” comes from the late nineteenth century. “The old crowd of Fair-haired Correspondent Boys who hung to the ear of President Roosevelt” appeared in the Saturday Evening Post in 1909.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer