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 1. Socialite

Meaning: A fashionable person well known in high-society circles; attends and hosts events.

Use/Connotation: Neutral→slightly negative if implying superficiality.

Collocations: New York socialite, society pages, glamorous socialite

Examples:

The gallery opening was packed with socialites and journalists.

She’s no mere socialite—she funds three education charities.

2) Underdog

Meaning: A person/team expected to lose but fighting against the odds.

Use/Connotation: Warm/positive; suggests courage and public support.

Collocations: root for the underdog, underdog victory, underdog story

Examples:

Everyone rooted for the underdog in the finals.

The startup was the underdog but out-innovated the giants.

3) Whiz kid

Meaning: A very talented and successful young person, especially in tech, business, or academics.

Use/Connotation: Positive and informal.

Collocations: coding whiz kid, finance whiz kid, teenage whiz

Examples:

Their whiz-kid designer rebuilt the app in a week.

She’s the math whiz kid who won the national Olympiad.

4) Ringleader

Meaning: The main organizer/instigator of a group’s mischief or wrongdoing.

Use/Connotation: Negative; often used in school, protests, or crime reports.

Collocations: gang ringleader, ringleader of the prank, identify the ringleader

Examples:

The teacher suspended the ringleader of the cheating scheme.

Police arrested two ringleaders behind the scam.

5) Tattletale (UK: tell-tale)

Meaning: Someone—often a child—who reports others’ mistakes or misbehavior to authorities.

Use/Connotation: Negative/teasing, informal.

Collocations: don’t be a tattletale, tattletale culture

Examples:

He’s not popular because he’s a tattletale about tiny rules.

Promote safety, but avoid a tattletale atmosphere at work.

6) Free spirit

Meaning: A person who lives independently of conventions; values spontaneity and self-expression.

Use/Connotation: Positive/admiring.

Collocations: creative free spirit, wanderer, lives like a free spirit

Examples:

She’s a free spirit who moved to the mountains to paint.

His free-spirit energy keeps the team inventive.

7) Late bloomer

Meaning: Someone who develops skills, confidence, or success later than peers.

Use/Connotation: Encouraging; stresses eventual growth.

Collocations: academic late bloomer, career late bloomer

Examples:

He was a late bloomer who published his first novel at 45.

Remind students that many scientists were late bloomers.

8) Kingmaker

Meaning: A powerful behind-the-scenes person who decides who gains leadership or fame.

Use/Connotation: Neutral→slightly negative (back-room influence).

Collocations: political kingmaker, media kingmaker, corporate kingmaker

Examples:

The party’s kingmakers endorsed her, sealing the nomination.

That VC firm is a kingmaker in fintech.

9) Newbie (syn. novice, rookie)

Meaning: A beginner with little experience in a field or community.

Use/Connotation: Informal; neutral if friendly, rude if mocking—use with care.

Collocations: newbie guide, help a newbie, newbie mistakes

Examples:

The forum has a pinned newbie FAQ.

I’m a newbie to baking, so be kind!