to feel like a gomer - Glite Dictionary

Examples

Trying to cook a fancy meal for the first time, she felt like a gomer.
He always feels like a gomer when trying to assemble furniture.
I feel like a gomer when I forget my lines.
She always feels like a gomer at parties.
He always feels like a gomer when trying to assemble furniture.
I felt like a gomer when I tripped in front of the whole class.
Trying to cook a fancy meal for the first time, she felt like a gomer.

Synonyms

to feel awkward

vsto feel like a gomer

21 2.8

Be uncomfortable or embarrassed when you are with other people

adds being foolish or incompetent rather than mere social discomfort

to feel like a fool

vsto feel like a gomer

9 6.0

To be embarrassed and silly because of something you did

is similar but adds a sense of incompetence in the situation

to feel dumb

vsto feel like a gomer

Informal

3 6.0

Be embarrassed and think you are foolish after making a mistake

adds physical awkwardness and a sense of incompetence beyond simple dumbness

to feel like a schmuck

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

1 9.9

To feel foolish and embarrassed about something you did

is less focused on social judgement and more on general incompetence

to feel like a total boob

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish or embarrassed because of a mistake

is broader, covering awkwardness or incompetence as well as clumsiness

to feel like a dodo

vsto feel like a gomer

Informal

9.6

To think you are silly after making a mistake

includes that silliness but also highlights general awkwardness or incompetence

to feel like a plonker

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

Being foolish and embarrassed after making an obvious mistake

adds stronger sense of being ineffective or incompetent in the moment

to feel like a wally

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish and embarrassed because of something you did

can be more serious, including awkwardness and lack of skill

to feel like a pinhead

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.1

To be foolish or embarrassed after making a mistake

is wider, covering clumsiness, awkwardness, and a sense of incompetence

to feel like a pillock

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish because of something you did

is broader by also including awkwardness and not just low intelligence

to feel like a boofhead

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish after making a mistake

is neutral and general, not tied to region or slang use

to feel like a jackoff

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

To feel foolish and embarrassed after a careless mistake

stresses general awkwardness or incompetence rather than deliberate irresponsibility

to feel like a total bumhole

vsto feel like a gomer

Offensive

9.9

To feel very ashamed and worthless after doing something embarrassing

is milder, indicating foolishness or awkwardness without extreme self‑devaluation

Antonyms

competent

114 3.6

Able to do a job well because of skill and knowledge

feeling confident

46 3.0

Being sure you can do something well

How Foolish

to feel dumb

Informal

3 6.0

to feel like a gomer

Archaic

9.9

silly

976 1.0

to feel awkward

21 2.8

Surface Forms

feel like a gomer infinitive

felt like a gomer past

felt like a gomer past participle

feeling like a gomer present participle

feels like a gomer third person singular

Morphology

feel + like + a + gomer

The meaning is directly compositional: 'feel' (experience) + 'like' (similar to) + 'a gomer' (an insulting noun for someone silly or awkward) yields 'experience oneself as silly or awkward.' This follows a common 'feel like X' pattern cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Feel like a gomer probably comes from the TV character Gomer Pyle, a friendly but clumsy man who often looked silly. That's why to feel like a gomer means 'to feel foolish, awkward, or incompetent' in a situation.