propeller head
- noun
- /prəˈpɛlɚ hɛd/
- Slang
- The new office hires are all propeller heads, constantly sharing tips on the newest software and tech trends.
Examples
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It is this type you find huddled in the alarmist camps that really gives all us propeller heads and geeks a bad rap.
Blog text (15) -
She is a true propeller head, spending every weekend building her own computers and coding apps.
-
At the tech fair, you could spot the propeller heads effortlessly discussing the latest gadgets and innovations.
Synonyms
A person who likes computers and knows a lot about them
A person who likes new electronic devices and gadgets
A person who likes making and using small devices like phones
How Enthusiastic
Surface Forms
Morphology
propeller + head
The meaning 'technology-obsessed person' cannot be predicted from the literal parts: 'propeller' (a rotating blade) and 'head' (person). The sense depends on a culturally specific stereotype (propeller-beanie nerd) and informal slang usage, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituents would not reliably infer the idiomatic meaning.
Etymology
Propeller head may come from a funny picture of a small toy propeller on someone's head, like a playful hat. One popular story says people used that image for tech fans, so propeller head means 'someone very interested in technology or gadgets'.