runt of the litter

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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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive ?
The runt of the litter, the adorable little piglet could have died when her mother rejected her.
Piglet shows there's nothing wrong with being a bit sheepish
Even the runt of the litter (the Buffalo Bills) is worth $1.6 billion.
Giddyap, pony!: Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos for $78 million. The team's now worth $2.6 billion. Hmmm
Mum-of-three Elaine, a worker at the Prince Charles Hospital, said: "My son's dog had puppies and Coco was the runt of the litter. She was so little she could fit in your hand.
Give her a round of appaws! FAMILY CELEBRATE AS COCO THE DOG GETS CHRISTENED
Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa, a dangerous enemy, dismissed him as "the runt of the litter," an unintentional compliment.
A durable leader
"She was the runt of the litter, with a wonky ear and a jut jaw, and I fell for her straight away.
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But unlike in the sport where the country is considered a royalty, Philippine netball has been the runt of the litter, losing on Wednesday to Brunei (69-32).
Reality hits PH netball athletes hard in Malaysia
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
You could say at times I feel like the runt of the litter!
Doull delighted to be with Sir Brad and the boys on the boards; ROAD TO RIO We continue our look at Welsh sports stars who are destined for the Rio 2016 Olympics with a profile of Owain Doull, one of the Welsh stars in the saddle bidding to bring home a cycling medal
SHE'S not exactly the runt of the litter but four-week-old Daisy is the odd lamb out.
Ewe little beauty; Richard gives lamb Daisy bottle three times a day
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
"Maybe he was the runt of the litter, and when the rest got scared off by the lorry being loaded, he got left behind.
Stowaway Spanish kitten looking for new home in UK; Tabby called Paella was found during a routine search at Portsmouth International Port
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