mall rat
Teen arcade frequenter
A mall rat is a young person who spends excessive time hanging around shopping malls, typically socializing rather than shopping.
The term emerged in the 1980s when malls served as teenage gathering spots: The food court was packed with mall rats after school.
It carries a mildly dismissive tone, suggesting aimlessness.
Acquiring goods at retailers
- hanging outCasual socializing
- window-shoppingViewing merchandise without intent to buy
- browsingCasual examination of options
- food courtCommunal mall dining area
arcade · cinema · people-watching · strolling · loitering · spending · retail therapy · meetup
Large multi-section retail establishment
- anchor storeMajor retailer anchoring mall
- food courtCommunal mall dining area
- arcadeArched passageway or gaming hall
- movie theaterVenue for film screenings
escalator · elevator · atrium · fountain · benches · parking garage · storefronts · corridors
Person aged thirteen-nineteen
- friendsVoluntary close relations
- cliqueExclusive social group
- hangoutFrequented gathering place
- skateboardersPeople riding wheeled boards
sneakerheads · trendy · selfie · gossip · boredom · allowance · afterschool · curfew
Commercial product names
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
- buyingObtaining through payment
- spendingOutlaying of funds
- salesRevenue from goods moved
discounts · trends · advertising · merchandise · impulse buying · fast fashion · logo · status
shopping
Acquiring goods at retailers
- hanging outCasual socializing
- window-shoppingViewing merchandise without intent to buy
- browsingCasual examination of options
food court · arcade · cinema · people-watching · strolling · loitering · spending · retail therapy · meetup · socializing
department store
Large multi-section retail establishment
- anchor storeMajor retailer anchoring mall
- food courtCommunal mall dining area
- arcadeArched passageway or gaming hall
movie theater · escalator · elevator · atrium · fountain · benches · parking garage · storefronts · corridors · kiosks
teenager
Person aged thirteen-nineteen
skateboarders · sneakerheads · trendy · selfie · gossip · boredom · allowance · afterschool · curfew · slang
brands
Commercial product names
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
- buyingObtaining through payment
- spendingOutlaying of funds
sales · discounts · trends · advertising · merchandise · impulse buying · fast fashion · logo · status · credit card
- shopping termsshopping list, discounts, coupons, receipts, checkout line
- slangslang, jargon, lingo, argot, cant
mall ratbig spender
One who splurges freely
window shopper · impulse buyer · consumer · buyer · errand runner
mall ratoutdoorsman
Wilderness activity enthusiast
anti-consumerist · homebody · nature lover · recluse · hermit
mall ratgo-getter
Ambitious, driven person
overachiever · workaholic · busybody · hard worker · striver