Definition of ankle biter
ankle biter
- toddler
Ankle biters In Aussie English small children (toddlers) have been known as ankle biters for some time now. It's in the Australian National Dictionary as a distinctively Aussie expression, first recorded in 1981. However, according to American language expert William Safire ankle biter is also a bit of America Army slang - with an entirely different meaning. It appears that in the US Army ankle biters are "people who criticize one's position but offer no constructive alternative". While the Australian slang use is simply a reference to toddlers being close to the ground, the American term seems to picture a small dog that keeps nipping at your heels and worrying you. The message is: be careful when describing your children as ankle biters to visiting Americans. They might be surprised to hear that your toddlers are "critical of your position while offing no constructive alternative". What was that you muttered? Something about "two nations divided by a single language"?" -- from ABC Newsradio
by J. C., Omaha, NE, USA, Mar 09 2005.
- people who criticize one's position but offer no constructive alternative.
by WalterGR, Sep 28 2009.
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