Saying somebody's stupid - Intermediate
The English have many interesting phrases for criticising other people's intelligence. We don't generally say them to the other person's face. Be very careful how you use them.
10 expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing:
- A bit thick.
- A bit dense
- A total airhead.
- Not all there.
- A few bricks short of a full load.
- Not the sharpest knife in the drawer
- Thick as two short planks
- Not academically gifted
- A dimwit
- Not the smartest...
How To Use These Phrases In Your English:
- Phrases 1 and 2 are colloquial ways of saying that somebody is unintelligent.
- Phrase 3 suggests that the person has air in their head where their brain should be
- Phrases 4 and 5 are probably the most cruel. They suggest that part of the other person's brain is missing.
- Phrase 8 is less direct. It states that the other person is not good at studies rather than directly saying they are stupid.
- Phrase 9 is slightly old-fashioned but people still use it today.
- Phrase 10 is followed by a noun to describe what kind of person you are talking about.. e.g. 'He's not the smartest president'.
Intermediate
