mutton-headed
Definition
Adjective:
- Stupid or dull-witted: "mutton-headed" describes a person who is perceived as slow to understand, foolish, or lacking intelligence. It is a derogatory term, often used informally to criticize someone's mental capacity.
Usage Examples
- (He said something foolish that revealed his lack of comprehension.)
- (The coach criticized the player for being stupidly persistent in error.)
Advanced Usage
- "mutton-headed" as a modifier: Can be used before a noun to intensify the insult.
- That mutton-headed decision cost the company thousands of dollars. (The foolish decision had serious financial consequences.)
Variants and Related Words
- Muttonhead (noun): a stupid person; the noun form of the adjective.
- Don't listen to that muttonhead; he has no idea what he is talking about. (A foolish person whose advice is worthless.)
Synonyms
- Blockheaded: extremely stupid or dull.
- Thick-skulled: slow to understand or learn.
- Dunderheaded: foolish or unintelligent.
Related Idioms
- "As dumb as a bag of hammers": extremely unintelligent (similar in tone to "mutton-headed").
- He is as dumb as a bag of hammers, always saying mutton-headed things. (He is very foolish.)
Etymology Note
The word combines "mutton" (the meat of a sheep, often associated with a passive or dull animal) and "headed" (having a particular kind of head or mind). The compound suggests a person's head is as slow or dull as a sheep's, reinforcing the idea of stupidity.