bullethead
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A head shaped like a bullet: A person's head that has a rounded, short, and broad shape, resembling the blunt, cylindrical form of a bullet. 2. A stupid or obstinate person (informal, derogatory): Used as an insult to describe someone perceived as being foolish, dull-witted, or stubbornly inflexible.
Usage Examples
Literal meaning (head shape):
- The cartoon character was drawn with a distinct bullethead, making him instantly recognizable.
- His bullethead was perfectly round and smooth.
Figurative/Informal meaning (stupid/obstinate person):
- Don't be such a bullethead and listen to reason!
- I can't get through to that bullethead; he refuses to change his mind.
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in informal, often humorous or insulting, contexts. Its figurative use is more common than its literal descriptive use.
- It can imply a combination of physical stoutness and mental dullness or stubbornness.
Variants and Related Words
- Bullet-headed (adjective): Having a head shaped like a bullet.
- The bullet-headed man pushed through the crowd.
- Thickhead (noun): Another informal term for a stupid person.
- Blockhead (noun): A very similar informal term for a stupid, obstinate person.
Synonyms
- Numskull (noun): A foolish or stupid person.
- Dunce (noun): A person who is slow at learning.
- Mule (noun): A stubborn person.
- Oaf (noun): A stupid, uncultured, or clumsy person.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Hard-headed: Stubborn and practical, not easily persuaded.
- While "bullethead" implies stupid stubbornness, "hard-headed" often implies pragmatic stubbornness.
- To have a head like a rock: To be very stupid or obstinate.
- This idiom is conceptually similar to the figurative use of "bullethead".
Noun
- a head shaped like a bullet