bright young things

Noun

bright young thing (plural bright young things)

1. (capitalized, idiomatic, sometimes) One who is youthful, clever, eager, and high-spirited in manner and attractive in appearance.
   • Mr. Faggus gave his mare a wink, and she walked demurely after him, a bright young thing, flowing over with life, yet dropping her soul to a higher one, and led by love to anything; as the manner is of females.1869, R. D. Blackmore, chapter 10, in Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor
2. (capitalized, historical, often) Any of a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London.
   • A set of youngsters from entitled backgrounds sharing a strong desire to buck against convention, the Bright Young Things included the children of some of the oldest and wealthiest families in England (some of whom still appear in gossip magazines today: the Guinnesses, the Mitfords, the Tenants).2016, Eloise Millar, Sam Jordison, Literary London, Michael O'Mara Books, →ISBN