Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary > Idioms & Sayings
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


Metaphors for 'stupid'

 

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 04, 2011, 08:39 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Metaphors for 'stupid'

English has some nice metaphors/euphemisms if you want to explain that someone is seriously deficient in brain cells:

He is two sandwiches short of a picnic
He is not the sharpest pencil in the box
He is tuppence short of a shilling.
He is not playing with a full deck

German also has: Er hat nicht alle Tassen im Schrank

Are there any Spanish equivalents?

Thanks
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old June 04, 2011, 09:30 AM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
Me vienen a la mente las típicas y nada amables:

(No) Tiene (ni) dos dedos de frente.
Tiene tres neuronas.
No puede caminar y mascar chicle al mismo tiempo.
Le falta un Einstein para ser Einstein. (o "Le falta un Einstein para llegar a Lassie" )
Está dado ... del todo. ("es tadado ...")

o las más moderadas:

No es muy despierto(,) que digamos.
No le pidas que piense.

Las imágenes en las que falta alto para completar un todo están más relacionadas con la salud mental, al menos en mis lares:

Le faltan caramelos al frasco.
Le faltan (un par de) jugadores (al equipo).
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old June 04, 2011, 09:37 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old June 04, 2011, 12:56 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,046
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Some of those often heard in Mexico:

No le sube el agua al tinaco.
No le gira (bien) la piedra.
¿Sabes por qué su cerebro mide dos centímetros? Porque se le hinchó.
Le faltó oxigenación al nacer.
Así, muy listo, no es.
Tiene la cabeza hueca.
Le falta materia gris.
...
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old June 04, 2011, 01:05 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Corto de frente.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old June 04, 2011, 04:56 PM
pinosilano's Avatar
pinosilano pinosilano is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Salento, South Italy
Posts: 759
Native Language: castellano (second language Italian)
pinosilano is on a distinguished road
Wink

Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
¿Sabes por qué su cerebro mide dos centímetros? Porque se le hinchó.
...
__________________
... ...'cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old June 04, 2011, 05:45 PM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
Me había olvidado ese de "le faltó oxígeno durante el parto".

El día que asignaban cerebros, llegó tarde.

La luz de su intelecto ilumina .... (add accordingly: la luz de stand-by del televisor; el dispersador de aromas; el piloto del repelente de mosquitos; etc)

Parece/Cuentan que una vez un pavo/pollo lo engañó...

El día que por fin entendió el jaque mate pastor*, se lo hizo a sí mismo.
*Scholar's mate, four-move checkmate
Para estar a la altura de su intelecto hay que treparse a un bonsái.

Si estás esperando que sea una lumbrera, llevá linterna.

[En la escuela; tanto por motivos intelectuales como por otros motivos] Atila [El rey de los (h)unos]

Es una luz ... mala [luz mala = will-o'-the-wisp (ignis fatuus)]
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old June 05, 2011, 02:57 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
No le sube el agua al tinaco. ...


Quote:
Originally Posted by aleCcowaN View Post
Para estar a la altura de su intelecto hay que treparse a un bonsái.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old June 05, 2011, 05:47 AM
Awaken's Avatar
Awaken Awaken is offline
Pearl
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 302
Native Language: American English
Awaken is on a distinguished road
Some other English ones just for the pure fun:

He is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
He is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
He is dumb as dirt.
He is dumb as a bag of bricks.
He is dumb as a doorknob.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old June 05, 2011, 07:59 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Caído del catre.

Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Seven stupid questions CrOtALiTo General Chat 19 May 13, 2009 01:34 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:25 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X