half-wit

IPA/ˈhɑːf.wɪt/
IPA/ˈhæf.wɪt/

half-wit — noun

1. an insulting or joking word for a person who is seen as not very intelligent, es

1.名詞B2
釋義

an insulting or joking word for a person who is seen as not very intelligent, especially because they do or say things that show poor judgment or a lack of common sense.

例句

Mira felt like a complete half-wit after locking her keys in the car with the engine still running.

feel like a half-wit after [doing something foolish]

Aarav felt like a half-wit after moving his queen right into the path of his opponent's bishop.

feel like a half-wit after [specific stupid action]

同義詞
  • fool

    more general and less harsh; can be playful or serious depending on the context

  • idiot

    stronger and more offensive in modern use than 'half-wit'

  • simpleton

    less common today; suggests someone who is naive rather than truly unintelligent

反義詞
  • genius

    a person with exceptional intelligence

  • intellectual

    a person who enjoys serious thinking and study

文法句型

half-wit + verb

call + noun + a half-wit

feel like a half-wit

用法筆記

Now somewhat old-fashioned. Can be offensive if used to describe someone with an intellectual disability; today it is more common in joking or self-deprecating contexts than as a serious insult.

常見錯誤

❌That was a half-wit plan.
✅That was a half-baked plan.
💡'half-baked' describes a plan or idea that is poorly thought out; 'half-wit' is a noun meaning a stupid person. It can be used informally before nouns (e.g. 'half-wit remark'), but 'half-baked' is the standard adjective for a poorly prepared idea.