white-haired boy
C1Informal, figurative
Definition
Meaning
A person who is specially favoured, pampered, or held in high esteem, often by someone in authority.
A person (typically male) who is the current favorite, protégé, or the one receiving preferential treatment from a person, group, or organization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is often, but not exclusively, used with a slightly critical or envious tone, implying favoritism. While the form is singular, it can sometimes refer to a group (e.g., 'the white-haired boys of the department').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'blue-eyed boy' is more common in British English, while 'fair-haired boy' is more common in American English. 'White-haired boy' is used in both, but is generally less frequent than its counterparts.
Connotations
Slightly dated or literary feel in both varieties. The 'white-haired' variant can sometimes connote an older, more established, or venerable favorite, playing on the association of white hair with age and wisdom.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern corpora. 'Fair-haired boy' dominates in AmE, 'blue-eyed boy' in BrE. 'White-haired boy' appears occasionally in journalistic and literary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Person/Organization]'s white-haired boyto be/become/remain the white-haired boyto treat [someone] as the white-haired boyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fair-haired boy (AmE)”
- “blue-eyed boy (BrE)”
- “golden boy”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to an employee or division currently receiving the most investment and positive attention from leadership.
Academic
Used informally to describe a researcher or department receiving preferential funding or support.
Everyday
Used to describe someone clearly favored, e.g., a grandchild who can do no wrong in a grandparent's eyes.
Technical
Not typically used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – not used as a verb
American English
- N/A – not used as a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A – not used as a standard adjective. Can be used in a compound modifier: 'a white-haired-boy project'.
- He's in that white-haired-boy position at the ministry.
American English
- N/A – not used as a standard adjective. Can be used in a compound modifier: 'the white-haired-boy treatment'.
- She got the white-haired-boy treatment after her promotion.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The youngest grandson is the white-haired boy of the family.
- He became the manager's white-haired boy after he won the award.
- Many in the office were resentful that the new recruit was immediately treated as the director's white-haired boy.
- The renewable energy sector is the government's current white-haired boy, receiving massive subsidies.
- Despite his mediocre record, he remained the party chairman's white-haired boy, shielded from any serious criticism.
- The novelist, long the white-haired boy of the literary establishment, faced a surprising backlash from younger critics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a wise, old king with white hair, who has a clear favorite young knight he always praises – the 'white-haired (king's) boy'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAVOR IS LIGHT/BRIGHTNESS (white/fair hair), FAVOR IS ELEVATION (golden boy).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'беловолосый мальчик' – this is incorrect. The correct conceptual equivalents are 'любимец', 'протеже', or the idiom 'учительский питомец' (teacher's pet).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct compliment (it often implies unfair favoritism).
- Applying it to objects instead of people.
- Confusing it with 'whipping boy' (its antonym).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of calling someone a 'white-haired boy'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently offensive, but it is often used critically to point out perceived favoritism. Calling someone this directly could be taken as an insult by others, implying they didn't earn their status.
While the idiom is gendered male ('boy'), it is sometimes applied to women, though terms like 'golden girl' or simply 'favorite' are more gender-neutral. Application to a woman can sound slightly archaic or deliberate.
'Teacher's pet' is more specific to a school context and implies a student seeking favor. 'White-haired boy' is broader (business, politics, family) and emphasizes the bestower's favor more than the receiver's actions.
It is recognizable but not highly common in everyday speech. 'Golden boy' or 'fair-haired boy' (AmE) / 'blue-eyed boy' (BrE) are more frequently encountered modern equivalents.