Mean Streak
Ah, the infamous “mean streak”—every childhood group had that one kid who lit up the playground with both charm and the occasional unpredictable malice. The proverbial ‘mean streak’ implies a person is not wholly odious but rather given to sporadic episodes of unkindness or malevolence. Picture the Toronto Daily Star (June 16, 1960): “A girl who would be attracted to Bud’s mean streak and bad temper must be a little out to lunch.” Not exactly a love letter, but quite vivid, don’t you think?
Related Terms:
- Out to lunch: In the context hinted, it implies being out of one’s mind, nonsensical, or irrational.
- Bad apple: Well, they say one bad apple spoils the bunch… but we’re strictly talking clichés here.
Similar Expressions:
- Has a dark side: More suited for villains in epic fantasies, but it gets the point across.
- Chip on the shoulder: When someone is always, annoyingly, ready for a fight.
- Streak of cruelty: Often found in thriller novels giving chills up your spine.
Synonyms:
- Spiteful
- Malicious
- Nastiness-inclined
- Curmudgeonly
Antonyms:
- Benevolent
- Kind-hearted
- Compassionate
Humor-Filled Quote: “I’m not saying you should emulate Bud’s mean streak, but every good horror film protagonist needs a touch of it—at least ’til the third act plot twist.”
Proverbs:
- “A wolf in sheep’s clothing”: Doesn’t it just make you skeptical of cute things in fluffy garments?
Literature Suggestion:
- “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë: Oh Heathcliff, your mean streak has enchanted and repelled readers for generations.
Movie Suggestion:
- “Mean Girls” (2004): An exploration of high school’s most spectacular mean streaks.
Song Suggestion:
- “Bad” by Michael Jackson: An anthem for everyone with an inner mean streak to boogie to.
As you delve through the quirks and idiosyncrasies of human nature, remember: life’s tapestry is embroidered with all hues—a mean streak here, a kindness there. Embrace the variety!
- Belle Ebett, October 2023
