crackpot
Definition
- Noun:
- A whimsically eccentric person: A "crackpot" is a person whose ideas or behavior are strange, unusual, and often regarded as foolish or impractical. The term suggests a harmless but odd eccentricity.
Usage
- The word "crackpot" is a noun used to describe a person. It is informal and can be considered mildly derogatory, though it often carries a tone of amusement rather than harsh criticism. It is typically used to dismiss ideas or theories that seem very strange or unscientific.
Examples
- Noun:
- Everyone thought he was a crackpot for believing he could build a perpetual motion machine.
- She was dismissed as a crackpot for her theories about communicating with plants.
Advanced Usage
- "crackpot idea/theory/scheme": This common collocation emphasizes the impractical or bizarre nature of the person's proposal.
- The magazine was full of crackpot theories about alien visitations.
Variants and Related Words
- Crackpot can also function attributively as an adjective, though it is less common.
- It was just another crackpot scheme that was never going to work.
- Crank (noun): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "crackpot."
Synonyms
- Eccentric: A person with unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior.
- Oddball: An informal term for a strange or eccentric person.
- Nut (slang): A crazy or foolish person.
- Loon (informal): A silly or crazy person.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- While "crackpot" itself is not typically part of a larger idiom, it is a standalone term used in phrases like "some crackpot" or "a total crackpot."
- Some crackpot called the radio station claiming the moon is made of cheese.
Noun
-
a whimsically eccentric person
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