daft
/dɑ:ft/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Silly, foolish, or lacking common sense: Describes a person, idea, or action that is absurd, irrational, or not sensible. 2. Mentally unbalanced or insane: An informal, often less offensive, term for someone who is behaving in a crazy or irrational manner.
Usage
- The word daft is primarily used in informal British English. It can describe temporary foolishness or a more general lack of sense. While it can refer to insanity, in modern use it more commonly means "silly" or "foolish" without a strong clinical implication. It is often used humorously or affectionately.
Examples
- That's a daft idea; it will never work.
- Don't be so daft! You can't go out in this storm.
- He's not angry, just a bit daft sometimes.
- The whole situation was absolutely daft.
Advanced Usage
- "Daft as a brush": A common British idiom meaning extremely silly or foolish.
- He's a lovely man, but he's as daft as a brush.
- "Daft about (someone/something)": To be very fond of or infatuated with someone or something.
- She's been daft about him since they met.
Variants and Related Words
- Daftness (noun): The quality of being daft.
- I couldn't believe the daftness of the plan.
Synonyms
- Silly: Lacking common sense or judgment; foolish.
- Foolish: Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.
- Absurd: Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.
- Crazy (informal): Mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way; or extremely enthusiastic.
- Balmy (informal, dated): Crazy; foolish.
Antonyms
- Sensible: Chosen in accordance with wisdom or prudence; likely to be of benefit.
- Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
- Sane: Of sound mind; not mad or mentally ill.
Related Idioms
- "Soft in the head": Another informal idiom meaning foolish or slightly crazy.
- You must be soft in the head to believe that story.
Adjective
- informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
- it used to drive my husband balmy