Rascals
/ˈræskəlz/
nounB1plural
Definition
"Rascals" means people who do naughty or mischievous things, but usually in a way that is not very serious or harmful. Often, it refers to children or young people who like to play tricks or break small rules for fun.
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See It in Action
Children or people who behave mischievously or playfully naughty
- •The rascals played tricks on their teacher but never meant to be mean.
- •Those rascals are always up to some fun mischief after school.
- •The old man smiled and said, “You rascals are full of energy!”
(Less common) Used affectionately to describe adults who act in a cheeky or playful way
- •The rascals at the party kept everyone laughing all night.
- •Even as adults, they were known as rascals for their playful jokes.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rascals" like "kids," but kids who like to play tricks or cause small trouble.
- ✓Picture a group of children laughing while hiding a prank, like putting a whoopee cushion on a chair.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you smile at someone’s funny but naughty behavior, like a friend who teases you gently.
- ✓Sounds like "RAS-cal" → Imagine a small animal (like a raccoon) sneaking around causing harmless trouble.
- ✓In stories, rascals are often the playful, clever characters who make life more interesting but don’t mean harm.
- ✓NOT like "criminals" (people who do very bad or illegal things), rascals only do light, playful mischief.
- ✓NOT like "bullies" (who hurt others on purpose), rascals are more about fun and jokes than harm.
- ✓NOT like "angels" (good and kind), rascals are a little naughty but still likeable.
Try Other Words
- •Mischief-makers: people who cause playful trouble (Use when you want to emphasize playful but not harmful actions)
- •Scamps: naughty but likeable children (Use in informal, affectionate contexts)
- •Pranksters: people who play jokes or tricks (Use when focusing on jokes or practical jokes)
- •Troublemakers: people who cause problems (Use when the behavior is more serious or annoying)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "rascal" (root) + "s" (plural ending)
- •Etymology: "rascal" comes from Old French "rascaille," meaning low or worthless people, but now it means playful naughty person
- •Historical development: Originally a negative word for bad people, it softened over time to mean playful or mischievous children or people
- •Modern usage: Mostly used to describe children or people who are naughty in a fun and light way, often said with affection
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone be a rascal without being mean? How do you tell the difference between fun mischief and real trouble?
•Why do you think people often use the word "rascal" in a friendly way even when describing bad behavior?
Fill in the blanks
1.The rascals laughed loudly because they had just ___ a small prank on their friend.
2.When parents call their children rascals, they usually mean they are being ___ but not harmful.
3.Unlike bullies, rascals cause ___ trouble that makes people smile or laugh.
4.The phrase "You little rascals!" is often said with ___, not anger.
5.Rascals often enjoy playing ___ on others, like hiding things or telling jokes.
6.After the rascals caused the mess, they quickly tried to ___ it before anyone noticed.
7.When adults are called rascals, it usually means they are acting ___ or playful, not serious.