Pester power
Definitions
influence
Refers to the power that children have to nag, annoy, or pester their parents into buying them thingspersistence
Describes the ability of someone to persistently bother or annoy someone else in order to get what they want
Examples of Pester power
As soon as my daughter heard that her favorite ice cream flavor was back in stock, she started pestering me to take her to the store every day until we finally gave in.
"Pester power" is a term that refers to the influence a child has on their parents to get what they want. In this example, the daughter's repeated requests and persistence ("pestering") convinced her parents to give in ("gave in") and take her to the store.
My nephew has an unbelievable amount of pester power when it comes to video games. He's been begging my sister to buy him the latest console for weeks now.
The phrase "an unbelievable amount" is used here to emphasize the extent of the child's influence on their parent. In this example, the child's persistent requests ("begging") for a specific item ("the latest console") have led to the parent considering buying it for them ("my sister to buy him").
The pester power of my friend's kids is not to be underestimated. Their constant pleading has convinced him to take them to Disneyland every year.
The example "Their constant pleading has convinced him to take them to Disneyland every year" is a description of how the child's persistent requests ("constant pleading") have resulted in the parent yielding to their demands ("took them to Disneyland every year").
I'm convinced that my neighbor's daughter has the ultimate pester power. She's been asking her mom for a pet hamster for months now, and I've seen her mother starting to soften.
The phrase "starting to soften" is an idiom that implies a parent is becoming more open to the child's request. The child's persistent requests ("she's been asking her mom for a pet hamster for months now") have led to the parent considering giving in ("starting to soften").
Emily begged her parents for a new smartphone every week, using her pester power to wear them down until they finally gave in.
Pester power refers to the ability of a person, especially a child, to constantly ask and pressure someone, often a parent or guardian, into giving them what they want. In this example, Emily's persistence and repeated requests for a new smartphone finally convinced her parents to give in, despite likely initial reluctance.
Sarah's younger brother has an impressive pester power when it comes to his favorite snacks. He'll ask for them constantly until he gets them, and Sarah finds it incredibly annoying but also somewhat amusing.
In this example, we see how pester power can be applied to specific items or desires, such as snacks or toys. The person with pester power uses their persuasiveness and persistence to eventually wear down the target of their requests.
My aunt's granddaughter has an incredibly strong pester power when it comes to her grandmother's attention. The girl will cling onto her grandmother's legs and whine until she gets what she wants, such as a cuddle or a story.
Here, we see how pester power can be used to gain one-on-one time or affection from someone, be it a grandparent or a parent. The persistent and clingy behavior can be both endearing and exhausting for the person being targeted.
The pester power of social media influencers has become a significant force in advertising and marketing. Companies will often partner with influencers to promote their products, as the influencer's large following and ability to influence their audience can be incredibly persuasive.
In this example, we see how pester power can extend beyond the realm of personal requests and into the world of marketing and advertising. The persuasive power of popular opinions and influencers on social media can be a strong selling point for companies, as people are more inclined to make a purchase based on the endorsement of a respected figure.
Conclusion
The idiom "pester power" can be used to refer to the influence that children have over their parents to buy them things, as well as the persistence of someone in bothering or annoying others to get what they want.Origin of "Pester power"
The term "pester power" originated in the marketing and advertising industry to describe the influence that children have on their parents' purchasing decisions. Advertisers realized that children could be very influential in convincing their parents to buy certain products, and thus the term "pester power" was coined to describe this phenomenon. Over time, the idiom has also come to be used more broadly to describe anyone's ability to persistently bother or annoy others in order to get what they want. This term has become particularly relevant in discussions about consumerism, parenting, and persuasion.