to be a numskull
- idiom
- Offensive
:
portarse como un idiota
- Don't be a numskull; read the instructions carefully next time.
Examples
-
Stop being a numskull and check your work before submitting it.
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You were a numskull to forget your keys again.
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Don't be a numskull and forget your keys!
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Why would you be a numskull in that situation?
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Don't be a numskull; pay attention during the meeting.
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Please stop being a numskull and start listening to advice.
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You really are a numskull for not studying for the test.
Synonyms
2
8.1
To act in a silly, embarrassing way to make people laugh
1
9.4
Act in a foolish way and ignore good advice
1
9.9
To act in a foolish way
1
9.9
To behave in a rude, stupid way
1
9.9
To behave in a silly or clumsy way
Behave in a silly or foolish way
Behave in a very foolish or rude way
Act in a foolish way that can cause trouble
To behave in a stupid and rude way
To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired
Behave in a silly, not very smart way
Act in a silly or stupid way
To act in a silly or stupid way
Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily
To do silly things that make problems for yourself
Act in a silly and annoying way
To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people
Act in a foolish, clumsy way
Act in a foolish or careless way
To behave foolishly or clumsily
To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh
To behave in a foolish and clumsy way
Behave in a silly, clumsy way
To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others
To behave foolishly and show little common sense
To behave in a silly and immature way
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a simple copula + article + noun construction: if a learner knows 'be' and 'numskull' (someone considered foolish), the meaning 'to be foolish' is directly derived from the parts. The pattern 'be a X' is cross-linguistically common and involves no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so it is transparent to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.
Etymology
Be a numskull may come from the image of a numb skull — a head that feels nothing and cannot think. So calling someone a numskull means they are 'stupid' or 'not thinking', which is why we use it when someone behaves foolishly.