featherbrained
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Foolish, frivolous, or lacking in seriousness and intelligence: Describes a person who is silly, scatterbrained, or not given to serious thought. It implies a mind as light and insubstantial as a feather.
Usage and Examples
The word is used to characterize someone's behavior or mental capacity as trivial, flighty, or not sensible. * She's so featherbrained; she locked her keys in the car twice this week. * His featherbrained schemes for getting rich never involve any actual work. * Don't be so featherbrained about this serious decision.
Advanced Usage and Nuance
- The term often carries a connotation of endearing or harmless silliness, though it can be used critically.
- It is a somewhat informal and dated term. While still understood, synonyms like "scatterbrained," "ditzy," or "flighty" are more common in modern casual speech.
Variants and Related Words
- Featherbrain (noun): A foolish or frivolous person.
- That featherbrain forgot to send the important email.
Synonyms
- Scatterbrained: Disorganized and forgetful.
- Frivolous: Not having any serious purpose or value.
- Flighty: Fickle and irresponsible.
- Ditzy (informal): Silly and prone to foolish errors.
- Giddy: Excitable and frivolous.
Antonyms
- Sensible
- Serious
- Level-headed
- Sober-minded
Idioms and Related Phrases
- To have one's head in the clouds: To be out of touch with reality, often due to daydreaming or foolish optimism. This shares the connotation of being insubstantial and not grounded.
- You can't rely on him; he always has his head in the clouds.
Adjective
- lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
- a dizzy blonde
- light-headed teenagers
- silly giggles