Boy Scout
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A person, especially a politician, who is idealistic and naive.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Gore, of course, has never been a political Boy Scout, least of all when it comes to campaign finance.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Boy Scout” mean?
A person, especially a politician, who is idealistic and naive.
Is “Boy Scout” formal or informal?
Boy Scout is generally slang.