spooney

spooney

A young man looks spooney as he gazes at a portrait.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Foolishly sentimental or amorous: "spooney" describes a person who is excessively and simplistically romantic, often to the point of being silly or infatuated.
    • Weak or feeble-minded: It can also mean being weak-willed, lacking strength of character, or acting in a foolishly naive manner.

  2. Noun:

    • A foolish or sentimental person: A "spooney" is someone who is overly romantic, silly, or infatuated, often in a way that others find amusing or pathetic.
Usage Examples

  • Adjective:

    • He became completely spooney after meeting her, writing her love poems every day. (He became foolishly infatuated and overly romantic.)
    • The old man was a bit spooney, always crying at sad movies. (He was weak and overly sentimental.)

  • Noun:

    • Don't be such a spooney; she's not worth your time. (Don't be a foolishly romantic person.)
    • The group laughed at the spooney who followed the actress everywhere. (The silly, infatuated admirer.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to be spooney on/upon someone": to be foolishly in love with or infatuated with someone.
    • He is spooney on his new neighbor, bringing her flowers every morning. (He is infatuated with her in a silly way.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Spoony (adj, n): an alternative spelling, identical in meaning.
    • She thought his spoony behavior was endearing. (His foolishly romantic behavior.)
  • Spooniness (n): the quality of being spooney; foolish sentimentality.
    • His spooniness annoyed his friends. (His excessive, silly romanticism.)
Synonyms
  • Infatuated: having an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone.
  • Sentimental: excessively prone to feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia.
  • Foolish: lacking good sense or judgment; silly.
Related Idioms
  • "To make a spoon of oneself": an old idiom meaning to act foolishly or to embarrass oneself, similar in spirit to "spooney."
    • He made a spoon of himself at the party by declaring his love loudly. (He acted foolishly.)
Etymology Note
  • The word "spooney" likely derives from "spoon," as in a simple, hollow utensil. The metaphorical connection is to a person who is empty-headed or easily "scooped up" by emotion, like a spoon holding liquid. It was common in 19th-century British slang.