runt

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.

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.

runt

n. a small person; someone whose growth has been stunted. (Also a rude term of address.) He can’t play basketball. He’s just a runt.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • runt of the litter
  • Mr Big
  • Mr. Big
  • be in with (someone)
  • be/keep in with somebody
  • in with, be
  • ginger group
  • an insult to one is an insult to all
  • best of a bad lot
  • the best of a bad bunch/lot
References in periodicals archive
It seemed that Runt had a gift for untying knots, especially the knot that I used to secure him for the night.
From one jackass to another: lessons learned from a stubborn friend
An exorcism of personal demons during a pilgrimage to Jamaica propels "Runt," writer-director-producer-actor Michael Phillip Edwards' ritualistic, semi-autobiographical drama addressing the meaning of manhood.
Runt
Poor little Runt! Saddled with the name his father gave him, the pup endures teasing and rejection from most of the other members of the pack, including his litter-mates, Leader, Sniffer, Thinker and Runner.
BOOK PICKS
"She went off with this little runt called Jeffrey Archer, who couldn't even get into university.
Pot calls kettle black alert
Healey's reference to the "Kiwi runt" comes inone particular story that he recalls about some of the Lions players making up rhymes about the management team.
WRU need to lighten up over Healey; TALKIN'rugby
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS BAP SHED BOPS AWL PERU EM I T BOO ALOE TEND ALTERED PAL RENEGE EBB LACE EASTER APACHE TSETSE MENTAL PETE ASA TIVOLI DEE AMIABLE ASIA AGES OIL MEAT RUNT UNA PANS MESS TON WEE THINKER Across: 1 Lute; 4 Coast; 7 Sense; 8 North; 9 Nurse; 10 Maple syrup; 14 Relief; 16 Denote; 17 Ridiculous; 22 Elect; 23 Glide; 25 Eagle; 26 Plead; 27 Real.
pounds 500 Xword THE winner of [...]
Frequency mask, frequency-edge, density, time-qualified, and runt triggers capture transients for analysis.
Analyzer processes 292,000 spectrums/second
Dawes, who has worked as a model maker for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, TV series Pingu and Aardman Animation's Rex the Runt, will be sharing her craft skills.
Store appoints children's writer-in-residence
FELINE FINE: Lucky, the runt of the litter and half the size of his four brothers and sisters, was among the kittens saved from being crushed in a car wrecker (below)
Kittens' claws for celebration
"Runt Farm" is a charming, imaginative tale about a renegade kitten (and fledgling duckling) who inherit a deserted farm and proceed to invent a wacky lifestyle that incorporates two wandering super-intelligent mice named Cletus and Tooth from NAARF (the Nightshade Association Animal Research Facility).
Runt Farm Under New Management
A little girl, Fern (Fanning), is horrified when she discovers her father is about to kill the runt of a newborn litter.
Spider tale is a pig hit
Jack Henry Bo Eason Bo Eason's "Runt of the Litter" is the perfect football play for people who consider the game the sport of barbarians.
Runt Of The Litter. (Off Broadway)
Healey - who was fined by the Lions management for a newspaper article in which he criticised Australia lock Justin Harrison and his teammates before the third Test in Sydney over the summer - labelled Henry a 'Kiwi runt' in his autobiography, which sparked an angry response from Henry's Welsh Rugby Union employers.
England star man Wilko 'inspired' by Henry
Down: 1 Creative, 2 Lei, 3 Ambit, 4 Anguish, 5 Grow, 6 Runt, 7 Wasp, 11 Leer, 12 Yeti, 13 Adherent, 15 Notable, 18 Elegy, 19 Most, 20 Stag, 21 True, 24 Bra.
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The breeder I got them from did say he was the "runt".
I have two male ferrets [...]; Pets and their people Your amazing animals and wonderful wildlife