little stranger

little stranger

A baby or very young child that is new to someone's life, especially parents or siblings. The arrival of a new baby is usually a very happy event for most first-time parents, but bringing a little stranger home can also be incredibly overwhelming. Siblings over the age of three have a hard time in particular accepting the little stranger who now takes away the attention from Mommy and Daddy.
See also: little, stranger
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

little stranger

a newly born baby. informal
2002 Psychology Today For anyone in the brand new role of caring for a little stranger so totally dependent on their ministrations, the early days of motherhood challenge anyone's sense of competence.
See also: little, stranger
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • baby gangsta
  • gangsta
  • BG
  • snatcher
  • snatchers
  • baby-snatcher
  • crawl out
  • baby
  • (as) weak as a baby
  • weak as a baby
References in classic literature
This fair little stranger is so small of bone and sinew, that his old name is not to the purpose." Here he paused long enough to fill a horn in the stream.
There was certainly something very singular in the aspect of the little stranger. Among all the children of the neighborhood, the lady could remember no such face, with its pure white, and delicate rose-color, and the golden ringlets tossing about the forehead and cheeks.
Come, wife; this little stranger must not stay out in the bleak air a moment longer.
At length, after a vast deal of trouble, he chased the little stranger into a corner, where she could not possibly escape him.
"But, of course, you--you'd want her, your sister's child," ventured Nancy, vaguely feeling that somehow she must prepare a welcome for this lonely little stranger.
As for the foxes, they all seemed to think Button-Bright's new head very becoming and that their King had conferred a great honor on this little stranger. It was funny to see the boy reach up to feel of his sharp nose and wide mouth, and wail afresh with grief.
Aunt Jane with her quiet voice, her understanding eyes, her ready excuses, in these first difficult weeks, when the impulsive little stranger was trying to settle down into the "brick house ways." She did learn them, in part, and by degrees, and the constant fitting of herself to these new and difficult standards of conduct seemed to make her older than ever for her years.
Had they known that the child had seen thirteen moons before it had come into Kala's possession they would have considered its case as absolutely hopeless, for the little apes of their own tribe were as far advanced in two or three moons as was this little stranger after twenty-five.
"Nay, fair little stranger," said he, "I like not thy name and fain would I have it otherwise.
Buck, take this little stranger and get the wet clothes off from him and dress him up in some of yours that's dry."
My mother was sitting by the fire, but poorly in health, and very low in spirits, looking at it through her tears, and desponding heavily about herself and the fatherless little stranger, who was already welcomed by some grosses of prophetic pins, in a drawer upstairs, to a world not at all excited on the subject of his arrival; my mother, I say, was sitting by the fire, that bright, windy March afternoon, very timid and sad, and very doubtful of ever coming alive out of the trial that was before her, when, lifting her eyes as she dried them, to the window opposite, she saw a strange lady coming up the garden.
The Queen and her subjects came to meet her, and all seemed glad to say some kindly word of welcome to the little stranger. They placed a flower-crown upon her head, laid their soft faces against her own, and soon it seemed as if the gentle Elves had always been her friends.
He saw at a glance that the little stranger was just the boy whose first half-year at a public school would be misery to himself if he were left alone, or constant anxiety to any one who meant to see him through his troubles.
Food, rest, and the fresh air, for which he languished, were neglected; he nestled continually by the bedside of the little stranger, and, with a fond jealousy, endeavored to be the medium of all the cares that were bestowed upon him.
Though you have said nothing we cannot, of course, look on him as a little stranger, and so I am sending him the old Lashmar christening mug.