the.com/problem child
The one who makes everyone else look easy by comparison.
means A person (or thing) that chronically causes trouble, defies fixing, and makes everyone braced for the next incident.
from A straightforward compound from child psychology and education jargon of the early-to-mid 20th century, where 'problem child' described a youngster with behavioral or developmental difficulties needing special attention. The phrase escaped the classroom and clinic by mid-century to label any person, project, or device that's chronically troublesome — the one relative, employee, or software module everyone sighs about.
- origin
- Term predates psychology, used since 1800s parenting manuals
- irony
- Often the most honest one in the room
- usage shift
- Now applies to projects, products, even countries
- secret
- Usually just the smartest kid, bored