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Glite Dictionary
real Gumby

real Gumby

9.9
A person who can change easily to fit new situations
  • noun
  • Slang
translation icon : flexible
  • Everyone admires how Mark handles change; he's a real Gumby in the office.

Examples

  • Our coach is a real Gumby, always adapting our tactics mid-match.

  • She is a real Gumby when it comes to yoga.

  • If you want to succeed in this field, you need to be a real Gumby.

  • I need a real Gumby for this project!

  • Everyone admires how Mark handles change; he's a real Gumby in the office.

  • If you want to succeed in this field, you need to be a real Gumby.

  • Our coach is a real Gumby, always adapting our tactics mid-match.

Synonyms

Gumby
vsreal Gumby
4 7.9

A green clay cartoon character with a bendy body who has adventures

describes a real person who is flexible and adaptable rather than the fictional figure

Antonyms

rigid
35 4.0

Does not bend because it is stiff

inflexible
11 4.7

Not willing to change or accept other ideas

Surface Forms

real Gumby singular
real Gumby’s plural

Morphology

real + Gumby

Given that 'real' functions as an intensifier and 'Gumby' denotes a character famously noted for physical flexibility, a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer 'real Gumby' means someone very flexible. The expression is compositional (intensifier + referent with a salient property), so while it depends on cultural knowledge of the character, the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Real Gumby comes from a green clay cartoon character called Gumby who could bend and stretch into many shapes. So calling someone a real Gumby means they are 'very flexible' or 'able to adapt'.