runt of the litter

runt of the litter

The smallest and weakest person in a group, especially a group of siblings. (A "litter" is a group of newborn mammals, the smallest of which is least likely to thrive or survive.) Even though I'm the middle child, I've always been the runt of the litter in our family—even my younger sister picks on me because she's taller than I am.
See also: litter, of, runt

runt of the litter

 
1. Lit. the smallest animal born in a litter; the animal in a litter least likely to survive. No one wanted to buy the runt of the litter, so we kept it.
2. and the runt of the family Fig. the smallest child in the family. I was the runt of the litter and the butt of all the jokes.
See also: litter, of, runt
References in periodicals archive ?
She was the runt of the litter, with a wonky ear and a jut jaw, and I fell for her straight away.
Chef Glynn's heartbreak for beloved Whoops the Wonder Dog; RESTAURATEUR MOURNS LOSS OF HIS JACK RUSSELL - WHO ONCE SAW OFF BURGLARS
Dan has finally got the keys to his own flat, sending his mum (Gwyneth Powell) into tears: "He won't survive, he's the runt of the litter and I only had him.
BEST OF THE REST
Over at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara, netball continued to be the runt of the litter losing its third straight game, this time at the hands of defending champion Singapore, 91-22.
Still no gold
When I was at his kennel and in the process of selecting my last pup, a little firecracker I named Suki, I paid her scant attention; she was the runt of the litter and I had my eyes on another.
The puppy conundrum: is there any way to pick the best one?
The runt of the litter, the sad little piggy had been bottle fed since he was three weeks old because his mum ignored him.
MEDIA HOG; Piggy Ziggy goes viral
Cathy added: "It looks like Suki is the runt of the litter.
SUKI GETS HER MEOW BACK
She looks for the runt of the litter because she's the alpha, she's rich, she has everything she needs and all she has to do is walk in her with her swagger, just from being who she is.
MOVIE Q&A; CHLOE GRACE MORETZ TALKS ABOUT MYSTERY THRILLER DARK PLACES, OUT TOMORROW ON DVD I was dazzled by the darkness of the story
That just leaves the runt of the litter, Diego Simeone's powerful Atletico Madrid side.
Spanish sides face moment of truth in Champions League
I was the runt of the litter, the 'entertainment', the one languishing at the bottom of the leader board by the end of the show.
Strictly fixed? It's a load of jive talk
She was the runt of the litter so we took her early when she was seven weeks to give her the best chance and have hand reared her so we are really attached.
DOG KNAPPED Kai with Alice (insets) /; Children are left heart-broken after puppy is taken from car boot sale
I hemmed and hawed a bit, and after giving serious consideration to the runt of the litter, a cute little female, I went with her polar opposite and dubbed him the Splendid Splinter in homage to Wilton's owner, Ted Williams.
Letter too good not to treasure
The second-last to be built in Britain (1910--right at the end of the golden age), it was one of the shortest in the country: the runt of the litter, perhaps it was never meant to thrive.
Pierdom
He's the runt of the litter so he's had to fight a bit more.
Heel Hitler! Pup is spitting image of evil tyrant of the Third Rrrrrreich
Sash, who is now nine, was the runt of the litter and the only gold-colored pup among her seven blonde, near-white colored siblings.
Sasha Levinson, wonder dog (and occasional service animal): she is a consistently good natured friend, our constant and loyal companion--and the love of our lives
He was turning out to be the runt of the litter, and we were both embarrassed by it.
Aitken offers Byrne tribute
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