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Glite Dictionary
fish brain

fish brain

9.0
A person who often forgets things and is not careful
  • noun
  • /fɪʃ breɪn/
  • Offensive
translation icon : cabeza de chorlito
  • Don't be such a fish brain—remember to lock the door when you leave.

Examples

  • He has a fish brain when it comes to remembering names.

  • After staying up all night, she felt like a total fish brain at her exam.

  • I completely forgot my password again; I swear I have fish brain.

  • Don't be such a fish brain!

  • After staying up all night, she felt like a total fish brain during her exam.

  • Don't be such a fish brain—you need to remember to take your keys with you.

  • I forgot my grocery list again; I really must be a fish brain lately.

Synonyms

booger brain
vsfish brain
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts silly, said as a playful insult

focuses on being inattentive and forgetful, not only playful insult
feather-brain
vsfish brain
  • Offensive
9.1

A person who often forgets things and acts silly

is informal slang for someone absent minded and inattentive rather than merely silly
addle-brain
vsfish brain
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is confused and forgetful

is used for an inattentive person who easily forgets rather than just confused
der-brain
vsfish brain
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts foolishly or forgets things

emphasizes absent minded forgetfulness rather than general stupidity

Antonyms

attentive
61 3.0

Paying close attention and caring about someone's needs

mindful
57 4.0

Aware of something and paying careful attention

How Attentive

observant
35 3.9
fish brain
  • Offensive
9.0
inattentive
5 5.3

Surface Forms

fish brain singular
fish brains plural

Morphology

fish + brain

The compound links 'fish' (an animal) with 'brain' (intelligence), so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer a metaphorical insult about someone's mental capacity or forgetfulness. However, this is a figurative animal-based comparison whose precise nuance (insulting tone, degree of stupidity vs. absent-mindedness) depends on cultural usage, so it is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Fish brain probably comes from the idea that a fish has a very small brain and seems to swim without thinking. Calling someone a fish brain compares their thinking to a fish, so it means 'a forgetful or absent-minded person'.