Phrase guide

not the sharpest tool in the shed

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

Lacking in intelligence; dimwitted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic, humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, not the sharpest crayon in the box, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, not the sharpest tool in the box, dumb as a bag of hammers, dumb as a box of rocks

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.