knee-high to a grasshopper



knee-high to a grasshopper

Quite young, as in I haven't seen him since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. This hyperbolic expression, dating from about 1850 and alluding to someone's youth, replaced the earlier knee-high to a mosquito or bumblebee or splinter.
See also: grasshopper

knee-high to a grasshopper

mod. of very short stature. (Folksy.) I knew you when you were knee-high to a grasshopper.
See also: grasshopper

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Lewi-Biblical Hebrew
Fernandfer-NAWNFrench
Stepane-Georgian
Marciane-Portuguese (Brazilian)
LokiLO-keeNorse Mythology
Hikarihee-kah-ṙeeJapanese