birdbrain en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈbɚd.bɹeɪn/ (US)
- /ˈbɜː(ɹ)d.bɹeɪn/ (UK)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From bird + brain, implying that birds, having small brains, are unintelligent (although this is untrue for many birds).
Meanings
-
(colloquial) Someone who is not intelligent.
Comedienne Carol Channing, 29, admitted that a grave personal problem had grown out of her playing the role of birdbrained Lorelei Lee in Broadway’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. People seemed to be convinced that she is a birdbrain offstage, too: “I won't say that people actually think I’m just two steps removed from outright idiocy, but they do seem to have adopted a protective attitude towards me...”
1950 February 27, Time, page 38:That birdbrain just drove right through three rows of traffic cones and into the bushes.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| birdbrains | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (15)
fi kananaivo (someone who is not intelligent) · ru кури́ные мозги́ (someone who is not intelligent) · pl kurzy móżdżek (someone who is not intelligent) · de Spatzenhirn (someone who is not intelligent) · pl ptasi móżdżek (someone who is not intelligent) · es mente de pollo (someone who is not intelligent) · fr cervelle d’oiseau (someone who is not intelligent) · ko 새대가리 (someone who is not intelligent) · ca capsigrany (someone who is not intelligent) · es casquivano (someone who is not intelligent) · fr étourneau (someone who is not intelligent) · ko 닭대가리 (someone who is not intelligent) · sv hönshjärna (someone who is not intelligent) · pt cérebro de passarinho (someone who is not intelligent) · ca cap de pardals (someone who is not intelligent)