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Glite Dictionary
to be a dimmie

to be a dimmie

9.9
To act in a silly or stupid way
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : hacer el tonto
  • He told his brother not to be a dimmie and to check the facts.

Examples

  • Don't be a dimmie and forget your keys!

  • You shouldn't be a dimmie when making important decisions.

  • If you be a dimmie during the test, you'll miss easy questions.

  • Why do you always be a dimmie in class?

  • He told his friend not to be a dimmie and to think carefully before acting.

  • If you be a dimmie and ignore the instructions, you might get lost.

  • You shouldn't be a dimmie when choosing a career; take your time to explore options.

Synonyms

to be a chump
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
3 9.2

To act foolishly and let people trick you

means foolish behaviour but does not include gullibility
to be a dolt
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
1 9.4

Act in a foolish way and ignore good advice

is about foolish actions rather than naming a stupid person
to act like a dumbo
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly or foolish way

focuses on the act of being foolish rather than the insult itself
to act like a peabrain
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly, not very smart way

covers similar foolish behaviour but not necessarily senselessness
to be a numskull
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.5

To do something silly without thinking

emphasizes lack of intelligence rather than impulsive thoughtlessness
to be a booby
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly or stupid way

expresses foolishness but is more neutral and descriptive
to act like a dipstick
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave foolishly or clumsily

highlights lack of intelligence rather than physical clumsiness
to act like a doylem
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a silly, clumsy way

focuses more on simple foolishness rather than awkward clumsiness
to be a nimrod
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish, clumsy way

refers mainly to simple lack of intelligence, not just poor skill
to be a chutiya
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a stupid and rude way

stresses lack of intelligence more than cultural slang or naivety
to be a skaapie
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily

focuses on lack of intelligence rather than naive innocence
to be a dink
vsto be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people

describes foolishness more generally without the irritating quality

Antonyms

intelligent
507 3.4

Able to think, understand, and learn new things

wisely
112 2.3

To act with good sense and careful thought

How Foolish

idiotically
  • Offensive
3 6.3
stupid
  • Offensive
∞ 1.0
to be a dimmie
  • Offensive
9.9
dim
  • Offensive
28 6.5
slow
  • Offensive
297 4.4
to be silly
88 2.1

Surface Forms

be a dimmie infinitive
was a dimmie past
been a dimmie past participle
being a dimmie present participle
dimmies third person singular

Morphology

be + a + dimmie

The overall meaning 'to act foolishly' is largely predictable from the construction 'be a' plus a noun meaning someone who is 'dim' — 'dimmie' is a diminutive/slang formation from 'dim' (not bright). However, 'dimmie' is informal and dialectal; reliance on a slang suffix makes the form less fully compositional and may not be immediately recognized by all B1 learners, so the transparency is partial.

Etymology

The phrase be a dimmie comes from the word dim, which means 'not bright' or low in light. Calling someone a dimmie is a playful, teasing way to say they are like a dull light who does not think clearly, so be a dimmie means 'to act foolishly'.