oaf
/ouf/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - An awkward, stupid, or clumsy person: A person who is perceived as unintelligent, foolish, or lacking grace and social skill.
Usage
The word "oaf" is a noun used to describe a person, almost always in a critical or insulting way. It emphasizes a combination of stupidity and physical clumsiness or social ineptitude. It is a strong term and can be considered offensive.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "Oafish" (Adjective): Describes behavior or characteristics typical of an oaf.
- His oafish manners made him unpopular at formal dinners.
- Concept of "the changeling": In folklore, an "oaf" was historically believed to be a child secretly left by fairies in exchange for a human child, explaining its strange or slow behavior. This archaic meaning is rarely used today.
Variants and Related Words
- Oafishness (n): The quality of being like an oaf.
- Lout (n): A similar term for a rough, awkward, or stupid man.
- Clod (n): An informal term for a stupid, awkward person.
Synonyms
- Lummox: A clumsy, stupid person.
- Boor: A rude, ill-mannered person.
- Dolt: A stupid person.
- Klutz: A clumsy person (less focused on stupidity).
Antonyms
- Genius: A person with exceptional intelligence.
- Savant: A person of profound learning.
- Adept: A person who is very skilled.
Idioms and Phrases
- As clumsy as an oaf: Used to emphasize extreme clumsiness.
- He moved through the china shop as clumsy as an oaf.
- A great oaf: An intensifier, meaning a very notable or large oaf.
- Her brother is a great oaf, but he means well.