quiz kid

plural quiz kids · alternative Quiz Kid

1. A very intelligent or accomplished child or young person, especially one who demonstrated his or her knowledge and quick thinking on radio or television programs in the mid-20th century.

   Through the next two debates, Kerry never lost that quiz-kid sharpness. He seemed to have an answer for everything.

   2004 October 15, David Ignatius, “Real, Enlightening TV”, in Washington Post, retrieved 09 Jul 2014

   2 more examples

   Brown recalled: I went up to read for her, and this forbidding lady said, "You think you're smart, you Quiz Kid you! What did Shakespeare mean by the phrase, bearded like the pard?" And I said, "Leopard, bearded like the leopard". It was a guess, a wild guess. And she said, "By golly, yes! You are smart!"

   1999 May 29, Tom Vallance, “Obituary: Vanessa Brown”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 09 Jul 2014

   Schlesinger never stopped seeming like the brightest student in class, "the eternal Quiz Kid," in Time magazine's phrase.

   2007 March 1, Douglas Martin, “Arthur Schlesinger, historian of U.S. power, dies”, in New York Times, retrieved 09 Jul 2014

plural Quiz Kids

1. alternativeAlternative form of quiz kid.