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to act like a doylem

to act like a doylem

9.9
Behave in a silly, clumsy way
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : comportarse como un idiota
  • Stop acting like a doylem and help me with this task.

Examples

  • Whenever he drinks too much, he tends to act like a doylem.

  • Why do you always act like a doylem during meetings?

  • Don’t act like a doylem in front of your boss!

  • Don't act like a doylem in front of your friends!

  • Please don't act like a doylem while we are in the meeting.

  • When she gets nervous, she tends to act like a doylem and make silly mistakes.

  • He always acts like a doylem when he's trying to impress others.

Synonyms

to fool
vsto act like a doylem
  • Informal
233 1.8

To behave in a silly, playful way and waste time

is more insultive, meaning outright idiot or clumsy acting
to be silly
vsto act like a doylem
88 2.1

Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously

is harsher, meaning actual foolish or clumsy idiocy
to make a fool of oneself
vsto act like a doylem
42 4.1

Act in a way that makes you look silly or embarrassed

is general foolish acting, not only the result of embarrassment
to play the fool
vsto act like a doylem
  • Informal
7 4.6

Act in a silly way to make others laugh or avoid being serious

is not deliberate amusement but actual foolish or clumsy acting
to act a fool
vsto act like a doylem
  • Informal
3 8.0

To behave in a silly or embarrassing way to get attention

can be the same but also covers clumsy foolishness
to be a buffoon
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
2 8.1

To act in a silly, embarrassing way to make people laugh

is the same behaviour but includes clumsy acting too
to be a dolt
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
1 9.4

Act in a foolish way and ignore good advice

adds the sense of clumsiness or idiot-like acting
to act like a putz
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To behave in a silly or clumsy way

covers that clumsiness but also plain idiotic acts
to be a berk
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To act in a foolish way

is the same but can stress clumsy idiot-like acting
to play silly buggers
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious

is plain foolish or clumsy acting, not only distraction
to be a tosser
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To behave in a rude, stupid way

is similar but is a neutral description rather than slang insult
to act like a clodpole
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a foolish and clumsy way

is the same idea but can include simple idiocy
to act like a dingus
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh

is similar but can stress being an outright fool
to act like a dipstick
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave foolishly or clumsily

is broader and can mean general foolishness as well
to act like a dumbo
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly or foolish way

includes that lack of thought plus physical clumsiness
to be a dimmie
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To act in a silly or stupid way

can also describe silly or clumsy outward behaviour
to be a numskull
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.5

To do something silly without thinking

adds that such behaviour can be clumsy or idiotic too
to be a chutiya
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a stupid and rude way

covers similar foolishness but not just naivety
to be a clipcock
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish or careless way

focuses more on awkward or idiot behaviour broadly
to act like a dodo
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.3

To behave foolishly and show little common sense

is similar but can emphasise physical clumsiness too
to act like a tosser
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others

adds a clumsy or idiot tone rather than just poor judgment
to act like a buffoon
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
6.8

Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you

is similar but can be just simple clumsiness without show
to act like a ditz
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk

is more about clumsy or idiot-like acting than scatterbrainedness
to act like an airhead
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
8.6

To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired

is harsher, stressing foolish or clumsy idiot behaviour
to be a dink
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

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

is similar but focuses more on clumsy or idiotic acting
to act like a peabrain
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly, not very smart way

adds that such behaviour can be clumsy and idiotic too
to act like an asshat
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

is similar but can be only clumsy or foolish without rudeness
to act like an assmunch
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a rude, annoying, and foolish way toward other people

is less about annoyance and more about mere idiocy or clumsiness
to act like an arseface
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

can be similar but may be only clumsy or silly without offence
to act like a douchecanoe
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people

is closer to pure idiocy or clumsiness rather than deliberate rudeness
to act like a fuckskull
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a very foolish and rude way

is similar in stupidity but less about strong insult
to act like a horse's ass
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave rudely and foolishly in a way that annoys or embarrasses people

is closer to plain clumsy or idiot acting without rudeness
to act like a dorkus
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish

is similar but can be more bluntly idiotic or clumsy
to act like a dingleberry
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly or annoying way

is more general, meaning simple clumsy or idiotic acting
to act like a booger brain
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly and immature way

is more general foolishness, not only immaturity
to act like a manbaby
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a very childish way as an adult

is general foolish or clumsy acting without childlike focus
to act like a brickhead
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To ignore good advice and behave foolishly

is broader, covering simple clumsy or idiotic behaviour
to act like a barmpot
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly or wild way that makes people laugh

is more plain foolish or clumsy, not just eccentricity
to be a wally
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly, embarrassing way

is similar but can sound more insulting than merely silly
to be a nimrod
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish, clumsy way

is similar but adds a clumsy or idiot quality to behaviour
to be a skaapie
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily

is broader, including clumsy and idiot-like actions
to act like a scally
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules

is more about clumsy or idiot acting than poor taste
to be a booby
vsto act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly or stupid way

is broader, meaning clumsy or idiot-like acting rather than mere silliness

How Foolish

to act like a dumbo
  • Offensive
9.6
to act like a doylem
  • Offensive
9.9
to act a fool
  • Informal
3 8.0

Surface Forms

act like a doylem infinitive
acted like a doylem past participle
acting like a doylem present participle
acts like a doylem third person singular

Morphology

act + like + a + doylem

Although the syntactic frame 'act like a X' is compositional, the crucial meaning rests on the noun 'doylem,' which is not a recognized English lexical item here and carries no provided definition. A B1 learner who only knows 'act' and 'like' cannot derive the intended sense 'behave foolishly' from the unknown nonce/slang noun, so the expression is not transparently interpretable.

Etymology

Act like a doylem may come from an old comic character called Doylem who was always clumsy and made silly mistakes. So, to act like a doylem now means 'to behave in a foolish or clumsy way'.