wet-behind-the-ears
Fresh from school
Wet-behind-the-ears describes someone inexperienced or naïve, typically a newcomer to a field or situation.
The image is of a newborn animal not yet dry from birth—still so new to the world that the hollows behind the ears haven't dried.
He's a wet-behind-the-ears recruit who doesn't know the first thing about fieldwork.
Inexperienced newcomer
- noviceInexperienced newcomer to field
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
- neophyteInexperienced beginner
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
newbie · apprentice · trainee · tyro · tenderfoot · raw · unseasoned · untrained
Easily deceived
- credulousProne to blind trust
- trustingInclined to believe others
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- unworldlyLacking practical awareness
ingenuous · impressionable · unsuspecting · guileless · wide-eyed · artless · childlike · unsophisticated
rookie
Inexperienced newcomer
- noviceInexperienced newcomer to field
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
- neophyteInexperienced beginner
beginner · newbie · apprentice · trainee · tyro · tenderfoot · raw · unseasoned · untrained · fledgling
gullible
Easily deceived
unworldly · ingenuous · impressionable · unsuspecting · guileless · wide-eyed · artless · childlike · unsophisticated · simple
wet-behind-the-earsseasoned
Flavored or battle-tested
experienced · veteran · worldly-wise · world-weary · battle-scarred