Birdbrain: meaning, definitions and examples
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birdbrain
[ ˈbɜːrdˌbreɪn ]
slang term
The term 'birdbrain' is an informal slang expression used to describe a person who is perceived as lacking intelligence or being foolish. It connotes someone who acts in a silly or thoughtless manner, often implying that their behavior is mindless, similar to that attributed to certain birds. This term was first popularized in the mid-20th century and carries a mildly derogatory connotation. Despite its negative implications, it is sometimes used playfully among friends.
Synonyms
dunce, fool, nitwit, scatterbrain, simpleton
Examples of usage
- Don't be a birdbrain, think before you act!
- He forgot his own birthday; what a birdbrain!
- She only remembered the meeting time because I reminded her; she's such a birdbrain sometimes.
Translations
Translations of the word "birdbrain" in other languages:
🇵🇹 cabeça de pássaro
🇮🇳 पक्षी मस्तिष्क
🇩🇪 Vogeldummheit
🇮🇩 otak burung
🇺🇦 пташиний мозок
🇵🇱 ptasi mózg
🇯🇵 鳥の脳
🇫🇷 cerveau d'oiseau
🇪🇸 cerebro de pájaro
🇹🇷 kuş beyni
🇰🇷 새의 뇌
🇸🇦 دماغ الطائر
🇨🇿 ptáčí mozek
🇸🇰 vtáčí mozog
🇨🇳 鸟脑
🇸🇮 ptičji možgani
🇮🇸 fugl heila
🇰🇿 құстың миы
🇬🇪 ბინძური ტვინი
🇦🇿 quş beyni
🇲🇽 cerebro de pájaro
Etymology
The term 'birdbrain' found its origins in the early 20th century, drawing on the idea that certain birds, particularly those with small brains, are not capable of complex thoughts or actions. As language evolved, it transitioned from a literal description of birds to a figurative characterization of human behavior. The earliest documented uses pertain to the perception that the intelligence of birds, particularly common backyard species, is limited. It reflects a broader cultural attitude towards intelligence and decision-making by implying that, just as birds might repeat simple behaviors without much thought, so too can people make foolish decisions. The idiom rose in popularity with the post-war American slang and has since become a recognizable expression in everyday language to describe individuals—often in light-hearted or joking contexts—who display a lack of common sense.