schlemiel
2
9.9
- noun
- /ʃləˈmiːl/
- Offensive
:
patoso
- Despite his best efforts, he always seemed to be the schlemiel of the group, accidentally spilling drinks and tripping over his own feet.
And I told Efraim and he's like, fuck fucking couple of schlemiels.
- And I told Efraim and he's like, fuck fucking couple of schlemiels.
Examples
-
Everyone thought he was a schlemiel, and turns out he's a criminal!
-
I look like a schlemiel.
-
Still, the same old schlemiel son, the one not meant for a life of his own.
Fiction book (2001) -
What a schlemiel, your father.
Fiction book (1998) -
Look at me, I look like a schlemiel.
Fiction book (1996) -
A Schlemiel, he goes on to explain, is someone who falls on his back and breaks his nose.
Fiction book (1995) -
The two displaced bums are having a friendly discussion about what exactly a Schlemiel is, a name they often call each other.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Such a schlemiel," Claudia said, and raised her cigarette to her lips.
Fiction book (2001) -
"I'm sorry," said Marla, "but it's very obvious that you're a schlemiel in the back room."
Fiction book (1995) -
Displaced Bum One gives this definition: A Schlemiel is someone who breaks his thumb in his vest pocket.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
22
7.0
A person who often makes mistakes in important situations
2
8.3
A person who often makes mistakes and seems clumsy
1
7.8
A person who often makes mistakes because they lack skill
1
9.9
A person who is clumsy and acts in a silly, awkward way
1
9.9
A person who is awkward and often drops things when they carry them
1
9.2
A person who does a job badly because they are not skilled
1
9.9
A clumsy person who often makes mistakes and causes small accidents
1
6.5
A person who often makes mistakes because they lack skill
1
3.4
A person who moves awkwardly and often drops or breaks things
1
9.9
A clumsy person who acts foolishly
1
7.8
A person who often makes serious mistakes because they are careless
1
7.5
A person who often makes mistakes because they lack skill
1
8.2
A person who causes confusion by making things more complicated
A person who often drops things because they are clumsy
A clumsy person who often drops or breaks things
A person who does work in a careless or clumsy way
A clumsy person who often makes silly mistakes
Antonyms
How Clumsy
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word schlemiel comes from Yiddish and is easiest to remember with an old joke: the schlemiel is the clumsy person who 'spills the soup' and the schlimazel is the unlucky one who 'has the soup spilled on them'. So a schlemiel is someone who often makes mistakes or messes things up.