to act like a dipstick
- idiom
- Offensive
:
hacer el tonto
- I really acted like a dipstick when I tripped over nothing in front of everyone.
Examples
-
She was acting like a dipstick all day, making silly mistakes.
-
She always acts like a dipstick when she's nervous.
-
Don’t act like a dipstick—think before you speak next time.
-
Don't act like a dipstick in front of your friends!
-
Don't act like a dipstick by forgetting to bring your notes to the presentation.
-
He really acted like a dipstick when he spilled coffee all over his shirt in the meeting.
-
When she started dancing badly at the party, I thought she was acting like a dipstick.
Synonyms
88
2.1
Act in a foolish or playful way without taking things seriously
42
4.1
Act in a way that makes you look silly or embarrassed
7
4.6
Act in a silly way to make others laugh or avoid being serious
3
8.0
To behave in a silly or embarrassing way to get attention
2
8.1
To act in a silly, embarrassing way to make people laugh
1
9.9
To behave in a silly or clumsy way
1
9.9
To behave in a rude, stupid way
1
9.9
Act in a foolish, annoying way instead of being serious
To behave in a foolish and clumsy way
To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh
Behave in a silly, clumsy way
Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you
To do something silly without thinking
Behave in a silly, not very smart way
Behave in a silly or foolish way
To behave foolishly and show little common sense
To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others
Act in a silly, embarrassing way
Act in a foolish or careless way
To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish
To behave in a silly or annoying way
To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people
Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily
Act in a silly or stupid way
To ignore good advice and behave foolishly
To behave in a silly or wild way that makes people laugh
To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules
To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired
Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk
To behave rudely and foolishly in a way that annoys or embarrasses people
Behave in a rude, annoying, and foolish way toward other people
To behave in a rude and annoying way
Behave in a rude and stupid way
Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people
To behave in a very foolish and rude way
To behave in a stupid and rude way
To behave in a silly and immature way
How Foolish
- Offensive
- Offensive
- Informal
3
8.0
- Informal
34
6.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although the construction 'act like a X' can be transparent when X is an obvious human trait (e.g., 'act like a fool'), the noun 'dipstick' is literally a car tool and its insulting/slang sense ('idiot') is idiomatic. The association between the literal object and 'behave foolishly' is not predictable from the parts, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Act like a dipstick comes from the small car tool, the dipstick, a thin stick you pull out to check the engine oil. One popular story says if someone 'acts like a dipstick' they are like that little stick—simple and not thinking—so the phrase means 'behave foolishly'.