runt of the litter

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.
See also:
  • runt
  • 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 bunch
  • the best of a bad bunch/lot
References in periodicals archive
The runt of the litter, the adorable little piglet could have died when her mother rejected her.
Piglet shows there's nothing wrong with being a bit sheepish
Looks can be deceiving; this runt of the litter was strong.
Last of the litter
Even the runt of the litter (the Buffalo Bills) is worth $1.6 billion.
Giddyap, pony!: Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos for $78 million. The team's now worth $2.6 billion. Hmmm
Mum-of-three Elaine, a worker at the Prince Charles Hospital, said: "My son's dog had puppies and Coco was the runt of the litter. She was so little she could fit in your hand.
Give her a round of appaws! FAMILY CELEBRATE AS COCO THE DOG GETS CHRISTENED
Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa, a dangerous enemy, dismissed him as "the runt of the litter," an unintentional compliment.
A durable leader
Runtamuffin is a loveable hen who grows from being the runt of the litter to become leader of the group and everyone's favorite barnyard critter.
A Runtamuffin Tale
"She was the runt of the litter, with a wonky ear and a jut jaw, and I fell for her straight away.
Chef Glynn's heartbreak for beloved Whoops the Wonder Dog; RESTAURATEUR MOURNS LOSS OF HIS JACK RUSSELL - WHO ONCE SAW OFF BURGLARS
Dan has finally got the keys to his own flat, sending his mum (Gwyneth Powell) into tears: "He won't survive, he's the runt of the litter and I only had him."
BEST OF THE REST
When I was at his kennel and in the process of selecting my last pup, a little firecracker I named Suki, I paid her scant attention; she was the runt of the litter and I had my eyes on another.
The puppy conundrum: is there any way to pick the best one?
The runt of the litter, the sad little piggy had been bottle fed since he was three weeks old because his mum ignored him.
MEDIA HOG; Piggy Ziggy goes viral
You could say at times I feel like the runt of the litter!
Doull delighted to be with Sir Brad and the boys on the boards; ROAD TO RIO We continue our look at Welsh sports stars who are destined for the Rio 2016 Olympics with a profile of Owain Doull, one of the Welsh stars in the saddle bidding to bring home a cycling medal
She looks for the runt of the litter because she's the alpha, she's rich, she has everything she needs and all she has to do is walk in her with her swagger, just from being who she is.
MOVIE Q&A; CHLOE GRACE MORETZ TALKS ABOUT MYSTERY THRILLER DARK PLACES, OUT TOMORROW ON DVD I was dazzled by the darkness of the story
That just leaves the runt of the litter, Diego Simeone's powerful Atletico Madrid side.
Spanish sides face moment of truth in Champions League
I was the runt of the litter, the 'entertainment', the one languishing at the bottom of the leader board by the end of the show.
Strictly fixed? It's a load of jive talk
"Maybe he was the runt of the litter, and when the rest got scared off by the lorry being loaded, he got left behind.
Stowaway Spanish kitten looking for new home in UK; Tabby called Paella was found during a routine search at Portsmouth International Port