to act like a clodpole
- idiom
- Offensive
:
comportarse como un torpe
- Stop acting like a clodpole and pay attention to what you're doing.
Examples
-
If you act like a clodpole in meetings, people may not take you seriously.
-
Don't act like a clodpole in front of your boss!
-
He tends to act like a clodpole when he's nervous or unsure of himself.
-
He always acts like a clodpole during meetings.
-
It's embarrassing when he acts like a clodpole at social events.
-
She tends to act like a clodpole when trying to impress her friends.
-
Whenever he acts like a clodpole, it makes everyone around him uncomfortable.
Synonyms
88
2.1
Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously
3
8.0
To behave in a silly or embarrassing way to get attention
2
8.1
To act in a silly, embarrassing way to make people laugh
1
9.4
Act in a foolish way and ignore good advice
1
9.9
To behave in a silly or clumsy way
1
9.9
To behave in a rude, stupid way
1
9.9
Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious
To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh
To behave foolishly or clumsily
Behave in a silly, clumsy way
Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you
Act in a silly, embarrassing way
Act in a foolish or careless way
Act in a foolish, clumsy way
To do something silly without thinking
Behave in a silly or foolish way
Behave in a silly, not very smart way
To behave foolishly and show little common sense
Act in a silly or stupid way
To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired
Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk
To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish
Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily
To behave in a stupid and rude way
To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others
To behave in a silly or annoying way
To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people
To ignore good advice and behave foolishly
To behave in a silly and immature way
Behave in a rude, annoying, and foolish way toward other people
To behave in a rude and annoying way
Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people
To behave in a silly or wild way that makes people laugh
Act in a foolish way
To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules
How Foolish
- Offensive
- Offensive
141
4.9
61
2.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
act + like + a + clodpole
The frame 'act like' is fully transparent (behave in the manner of), but the noun 'clodpole' is rare/archaic and not clearly analyzable for a B1 learner. Although 'clod' can carry a sense of a clumsy or stupid person, the compound is not a standard, predictable formation, so the meaning is partially inferable but would likely require prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase act like a clodpole may come from the words clod (a lump of earth) and pole (a stick), which gives the image of a heavy, awkward lump on a stick, moving slowly and without grace. That's why it means 'to behave in a foolish or clumsy way'.