shlemiel

Thân thiện

A shlemiel spills his coffee while trying to carry too many things.

Definition

Noun: - A consistently clumsy, awkward, or unlucky person; a habitual bungler or fool. The term originates from Yiddish and carries a connotation of endearment or pity rather than harsh criticism.

Usage

The word "shlemiel" is used to describe a person who is perpetually inept or unfortunate, often causing minor mishaps. It is a colloquial term.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a humorous or affectionate way to describe someone's chronic clumsiness without severe malice.
• In Jewish humor, the "shlemiel" is sometimes contrasted with the "schlimazel," where the shlemiel is the one who spills the soup and the schlimazel is the one it lands on.

Variants and Related Words

• Schlemiel: An alternative common spelling.
• Schlimazel (noun): A chronically unlucky person (the one upon whom the shlemiel's soup is spilled).

Synonyms

• Bungler: A person who habitually fails to perform a task competently.
• Klutz: A clumsy, awkward person.
• Butterfingers: A person who drops things easily.

Idioms and Phrases

• While "shlemiel" itself is not typically part of a longer English idiom, it frequently appears in the classic joke formula distinguishing a shlemiel from a schlimazel.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (Yiddish) a dolt who is a habitual bungler

Từ đồng nghĩa

• schlemiel