naughty step
/ˈnɔti ˌstɛp/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.81 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A place, such as a particular step on a staircase or a stool, where a child is sent to sit in silence as a punishment.
British usage
noun
A state of disgrace, exclusion from a group, or punishment as a result of a misdemeanour.
British usage
Example Sentences
- "She is still talking to them at length about bringing up children without naughty steps."
- "I use the naughty step technique. Harvey understands that if he throws something he has to pick it up. say sorry and go and sit on the naughty step and count to thirty."
- "I know someone who uses and uses and uses the naughty step and threat of same, so much so that the phrase sets my teeth on edge. Her daughter's not even "naughty" – her mother just doesn't want her to behave like a child, just a mini adult."
- "When I am on the naughty step I can see into the family room. It used to be the kitchen but someone who lived here turned the other room into the kitchen and now the kitchen is the family room. […] I am on the naughty step a lot."
- "Warn once, then follow through with the Naughty Step. […] And yes, you can discipline more than one child at once. I've had triplets on three Naughty Steps. If that's too hard for you, do it one at a time."
- "She [Tanya Byron] implicitly referenced [Jo] Frost’s most infamous Supernanny technique, stating that she was ‘not a fan of naughty steps’ (see Mumsnet, 2007). Her co-clinician on Little Angels (BBC Three, 2004), Stephen Briers, repeated this in his book Superpowers for Parents (2008), promising that ‘you won’t find any naughty steps here’."
Etymology
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, sense 2 (“state of disgrace, exclusion from a group, or punishment”) is attested earlier than sense 1 (“place where a child is sent to sit as a punishment”), though logically sense 2 follows from sense 1. The term was popularized by the professional nanny and author Jo Frost (born 1970) in the British television show Supernanny (first broadcast in 2004).
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈnɔti ˌstɛp/
- British English: /ˈnɔːti ˌstɛp/
Usage
- British usage