Applied to one who does not fit in and is shunned for the differences and/or is bullied at a high degree
by Big Mike November 1, 2004
In business, this is a product, remote office, employee, etc., who doesn't get respect. The moniker stems from the popular slang phrase "beat you like a red-headed stepchild." Often times, the disrespect is undeserved.
If a product is an embarrassment to a company, it is the company's red-headed stepchild.
If a product is an embarrassment to a company, it is the company's red-headed stepchild.
The satellite office was outperforming the head office statistically, but because it created work for people in the head office, it was treated like a red-headed stepchild.
Because the Edsel didn't sell well, it became Ford's red-headed stepchild.
Because the Edsel didn't sell well, it became Ford's red-headed stepchild.
by Glenwood October 1, 2006
A term that originated out of the common mistreatment and social ostracism of redheaded individuals (gingers). A redheaded individual born into(legitamately or not), or adopted into a family of non-redheads was typically subject to physical and emotional abuse, and usually short handed when it came to financial matters in the family, such as the estate or any savings the family had acquired. Today, the term can be applied to an individual or group of individuals who are outcasts, or are typically dealt the worst hand in society.
by AppleFlapper April 17, 2009
Possible source: the story of King David's lineage. According to midrash (exegetical works on the Bible), his father Jesse separated from his mother due to concern about his own Jewish lineage with the intent not to procreate with her any longer. He planned to have more children with a non-Jewish maidservant who instead conspired with his wife to allow her to be with him one more time. She conceived and when it became apparent that she was pregnant the family wanted to ostracize her for her suspected infidelity. Her youngest son David (who is described in the Bible as being of ruddy complexion and having red hair) was shunned by the rest of Jesse's children - they wouldn't allow him to eat at the family table, and purposely assigned him to the role of shepherd in the hopes that he'd be devoured by wild animals. It wasn't until the prophet Samuel anointed him as the successor to Saul as King of Israel that doubts of his lineage were laid to rest.
Stepchild can be seen as a euphemism for bastard.
Stepchild can be seen as a euphemism for bastard.
by RoninerHasid June 7, 2016
Term from rural America describing person who is socially outcast and easily picked on. Usually meeting the business end of a fist, boot, broomstick, bat, broken bottle, and/or foreign objects of injurious force. Often at the end of the tag line, "I'll beat you like a..."
"Hey you boy, yeah you. We don't take kindly to new folk lookin' funny like that. You best be leavin' or I'll beat you like a red-headed stepchild"
by Bloody Abo September 5, 2006
Noun/Adjective: When someone is extremely undesirable and irrelevant in a group. In some instances you can refer to objects as such.
Timothy: Dude Charlie is like the red headed stepchild of this hockey team.
Mark: Dude I know, I’m trying to go full send but he is always in the way
Mark: Dude I know, I’m trying to go full send but he is always in the way
by John Martian November 29, 2017
by |darc| December 8, 2002