prodigal son
Definition
A biblical figure from the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke, representing a wayward son who squanders his inheritance on reckless living, returns home penniless and repentant, and is joyfully welcomed back by his father.
By extension, a person—often a son—who leaves home, lives extravagantly or dissolutely, wastes their resources, and then returns seeking forgiveness or reconciliation.
Examples
After blowing his inheritance on vintage sneaker flips that tanked, Jake slunk home as the prodigal son, trading NFTs for instant noodles.
The prodigal son of Wall Street ditched his corner office for a van life vlog, only to pivot back when the WiFi sponsorships dried up.
She dubbed her globetrotting brother the prodigal son after he maxed out the family credit card on 'life experiences' like llama yoga retreats.
In tech circles, he's the prodigal son who ghosted the startup grind for Burning Man, returning with just a sunburn and a vague pitch deck.