Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
half a head

half a head

9.9
A person who is foolish and lacks common sense
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : medio idiota
  • You must have half a head to believe everything you read online.

Examples

  • Everyone thought he had half a head after he lost his wallet for the third time this month.

  • She told me I had half a head when I tried to fix the sink myself.

  • Don't be such half a head!

  • He's acting like half a head today.

  • Everyone thought he had half a head after he made a silly mistake.

  • She said that I must have half a head for trying to solve that complicated puzzle without help.

  • You really must have half a head if you think that will work!

Synonyms

bonehead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
43 7.9

A person who does silly things without thinking

is broader and less focused on stupidity as a trait
pinhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
35 8.7

A person who makes silly mistakes

is a broader term for lacking sense rather than a nickname
half-wit
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
15 8.9

A rude word for a person who seems very stupid

is a more neutral word for foolishness rather than a harsh insult
airhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
13 8.8

A person who is silly and not very smart

is general and does not stress scatterbrained behaviour
fathead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
6 8.2

A person who is foolish and not very smart

is a more neutral descriptor without a personal insult force
lunkhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
5 9.7

A person who is not very smart

is a general label for foolishness without implying slowness
chowderhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A person who behaves in a silly or stupid way

is a neutral description rather than a playful nickname
dunderhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
3 9.1

A person who often does foolish things or makes simple mistakes

is a more general, less blunt way to call someone foolish
hammerhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
3 8.4

A rude word for someone who is not smart

is more general and not always meant as an insult
stupidhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A childish name used to call someone silly

is the adult word used more generally and not childish
jughead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Someone who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is a more standard word for lacking sense rather than slang
featherhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 8.9

A person who is silly and often forgets things

is more general and not limited to flighty or scatterbrained traits
dumbhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A rude word for a person who is very stupid

is more neutral and not strongly slangy or crude
stupid-head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A playful insult for a person who acts silly

is the general term for lack of sense rather than childish teasing
dumb cluck
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is a broader label that lacks the comic tone
pudding head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not very smart

is a general term without the childlike playful tone
bubble-head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A person who is silly and not serious

is more neutral and covers lack of sense without whimsy
potato head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 8.4

A person who behaves in a foolish or silly way

is a general descriptor without that comic nickname feel
spud head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.8

An insulting name for a person who is foolish or lazy

is focused on foolishness rather than implying laziness
coconut head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts foolishly and lacks common sense

is broader and does not specifically stress missing common sense
conehead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

An insulting word for a person who does foolish things

is more neutral and used broadly without sharp insult
blubberhead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who behaves in a foolish way

is more neutral and not primarily slangy or mocking
lackwit
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is silly and not very clever

is the modern common word rather than an archaic form
saphead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts like a fool and makes poor decisions

is a general fool term rather than one about poor judgement
pudden-head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is not very smart

is the same idea but used more generally and plainly
bum head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who behaves in a silly or careless way

is the general word for foolishness rather than playful teasing
addle-head
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who often thinks in a confused or silly way

is broader and focuses on foolishness not mental confusion
addlehead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is foolish and cannot think clearly

is the general term for lack of sense rather than muddled thinking
der-brain
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts foolishly or forgets things

is a broader label not implying forgetfulness
hoghead
vshalf a head
  • Offensive
9.9

An insulting word for a rude or stupid person

is a general word for foolishness without coarse insult

Antonyms

wise
758 2.1

Showing good judgment from experience

sensible
201 2.7

Showing good judgment and making practical choices

How Foolish

idiotic
  • Offensive
115 4.4
stupid
  • Offensive
∞ 1.0
half a head
  • Offensive
9.9
foolish
505 1.3
silly
976 1.0

Surface Forms

half a head singular
half heads plural

Morphology

half + a + head

The meaning 'foolish' can be inferred from the parts: 'half' + 'head' suggests someone with only half a head (i.e. lacking full brain/ sense), so there is a clear compositional/metaphorical link. However, this is a metaphorical, somewhat marked expression and not a fully conventional, literal composition; a B1 learner could plausibly guess the sense but might not be certain without exposure.

Etymology

The phrase half a head comes from the image of someone with only half a head, so they cannot think properly. That's why it means 'foolish' or 'lacking sense'.