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Glite Dictionary
as sharp as a butter knife

as sharp as a butter knife

7.5
Fails to make a strong point because it is dull and weak
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : estúpido
  • His comments during the meeting were as sharp as a butter knife, failing to make any real impact.

Examples

  • The comedian's latest joke was as sharp as a butter knife, barely making the audience laugh.

  • She tried to make a cutting remark, but it was as sharp as a butter knife.

  • Don't be as sharp as a butter knife!

  • His arguments were as sharp as a butter knife during the debate.

  • His comments during the meeting were as sharp as a butter knife, failing to make any real impact.

  • The comedian's latest joke was as sharp as a butter knife, barely making the audience laugh.

  • She tried to make a cutting remark, but it was as sharp as a butter knife.

Synonyms

blunt
vsas sharp as a butter knife
109 1.0

An object with a dull edge or tip that does not cut well

is used sarcastically to mean ineffective or lacking precision
dull
vsas sharp as a butter knife
17 1.0

Not having a sharp edge so it cuts poorly

is used figuratively to call something ineffective or lacking incisiveness
not the sharpest crayon in the box
vsas sharp as a butter knife
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not very quick to understand things

uses sarcasm about ineffectiveness and bluntness rather than literal dullness
sharp as a bowling ball
vsas sharp as a butter knife
  • Offensive
9.3

A person who is not smart and is slow to understand things

is about blunt ineffectiveness or lack of precision rather than just low intelligence
not the sharpest knife in the drawer
vsas sharp as a butter knife
  • Offensive
9.1

Not very quick to understand things

focuses on bluntness or lack of precision rather than simple stupidity

Antonyms

effective
986 3.1

Produces the intended result, for example a speech or medicine

sharp
301 1.0

A thing with an edge that can cut or pierce

How Sharp

razor-sharp
8 4.1
sharp
301 1.0
dull
17 1.0
as sharp as a butter knife
  • Offensive
7.5

Surface Forms

as sharp as a butter knife positive

Morphology

as + sharp + as + a + butter + knife

This is a straightforward simile using the compositional pattern 'as ... as ...' comparing 'sharp' to a 'butter knife'; since butter knives are commonly known to be blunt, a learner who knows 'sharp', 'butter', and 'knife' can infer it means 'not sharp/ineffective' (often sarcastically). The comparison is literal and follows a cross-linguistic comparative logic, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

As sharp as a butter knife compares something to a butter knife, a dull knife used to spread butter rather than cut food. Because the knife cannot cut well, the phrase means 'not effective' or failing to make a strong point.