childish need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "childish need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a desire or requirement that is immature or overly simplistic, often associated with children. Example: "His constant craving for attention revealed a childish need that was hard to ignore."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Ms. Truitt sometimes comes across as puritanical; Ms. Wilke, driven by a childish need for attention.

The New York Times - Arts

"Though frankly I've always felt that the place where Christianity gets dangerously, vulgarly obsessed with the miraculous is Easter, the Nativity has always struck me as a close second to the Resurrection in nakedly addressing the most childish need".

The New Yorker

This is a consistently intelligent and engrossing movie about the creation of a self-perpetuating international espionage community, living in a twilight world that gratifies a childish need for fulfilling fantasies, sharing secrets, exercising ruthless power in the belief that you are disinterestedly working for the good of the nation.

The Guardian - Film

My mother grew weary of his childish need for attention.

Huffington Post

So let's put away the childish need for a perfect father and embrace a new relationship with the universe in the process of evolution.

Huffington Post

Let them live the lives they're living, and not force them into our understanding of nightlife and our childish need for entertainment.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Believe it or not, there is a time where childish things need to be put away, and not just printed onto a onesie or whatever the fuck it is students wear these days.

Vice

It is really telling how close a black "redemptive counter-mythology" sails to the colonial vision of a childish people needing a strong guiding hand to lead them.

The Washington Post

Because the rumba is the central metaphor for Levis's ever-pining heart, its "playful and nearly childish melody" needs to resonate in the reader's mind.

The New York Times - Books

The elite implication is that there is something demeaning and childish about the need to hero-worship or dwell on a famous person who is our contemporary but who doesn't know us: it seems passive and inferior, a confession of inadequacy, a proof that we are insufficiently engaged with our own projects and have chosen to "escape" from our lives because we have no idea how to lead them properly.

The Guardian - Opinion

4. "When you bring up your mom's new boyfriend, I won't tell you, 'I don't what to talk about that.' The last thing I want you to do is censor yourself around me and wonder, 'Should I or shouldn't I tell dad about this?' You've been through enough already; you don't need childish behavior from the adults in your lives.'" -Al DeLuise.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "childish need", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the need is immature or overly simplistic. Avoid using it in situations where a genuine and age-appropriate need is being expressed.

Common error

Avoid labeling genuine emotional needs as "childish needs". It's crucial to distinguish between immaturity and legitimate requirements for support, understanding, or security. Using the phrase inappropriately can be dismissive and insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "childish need" functions as an adjective-noun compound, where the adjective "childish" modifies the noun "need". As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct, describing a desire or requirement characterized by immaturity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "childish need" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe an immature or overly simplistic desire or requirement. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media sources. When using this phrase, be mindful of the potentially judgmental tone it conveys and consider alternatives like "immature desire" or "naive requirement" to ensure the desired nuance and avoid unintended offense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immature desire

Replaces 'childish' with 'immature', focusing on a lack of emotional development.

naive requirement

Substitutes 'childish' with 'naive', highlighting a lack of experience or sophistication.

infantile longing

Uses 'infantile' instead of 'childish', emphasizing a very early stage of development.

juvenile craving

Replaces 'childish' with 'juvenile', suggesting a characteristic of youth or adolescence.

immature craving

Replaces 'childish' with 'immature', focusing on a lack of emotional development, and 'need' with 'craving', emphasizing a strong desire.

simplistic want

Substitutes 'childish' with 'simplistic', highlighting a lack of complexity, and 'need' with 'want', softening the intensity of the requirement.

immature expectation

Replaces 'childish' with 'immature', focusing on a lack of emotional development, and 'need' with 'expectation', emphasizing anticipation.

frivolous desire

Replaces 'childish' with 'frivolous', suggesting a lack of seriousness or purpose, and 'need' with 'desire', emphasizing a wish.

petty yearning

Substitutes 'childish' with 'petty', highlighting insignificance, and 'need' with 'yearning', emphasizing a deep longing.

puerile demand

Uses 'puerile' instead of 'childish', suggesting silliness or triviality, and 'demand' instead of 'need', adding emphasis on the need being insisted upon.

FAQs

How can I use "childish need" in a sentence?

You can use "childish need" to describe an immature or overly simplistic desire. For example, "His constant craving for attention revealed a "childish need" that was hard to ignore."

What can I say instead of "childish need"?

You can use alternatives like "immature desire", "naive requirement", or "infantile longing" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "childish need"?

It's appropriate when describing a desire or requirement that is clearly immature, unrealistic, or overly simplistic in a given situation. However, exercise caution to avoid being dismissive of legitimate emotional requirements.

What's the difference between "childish need" and "childlike wonder"?

"Childish need" implies immaturity or a lack of sophistication in a desire, while "childlike wonder" refers to a positive, innocent, and enthusiastic perspective, often associated with openness and curiosity.