Idiot
noun
A person who is not smart or does silly things.
Don't be such an idiot, remember to look both ways before crossing the street.
Often appears as...
- act like an idiot
- complete idiot
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In a medical or psychological context, a person with a severe intellectual disability.
In psychiatric studies, 'idiot' was once a technical term for a person with a very low IQ
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Technical
noun
A person who is ignorant or uninformed.
He's an idiot when it comes to modern technology.
Often appears as...
- political idiot
- technical idiot
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In a legal context, a person who is considered incapable of understanding the nature of a transaction.
The law protected so-called 'idiots' from entering into legally binding agreements.
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Technical
noun
A person who is not smart or does silly things.
Don't be such an idiot, remember to look both ways before crossing the street.
Often appears as...
- act like an idiot
- complete idiot
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In a medical or psychological context, a person with a severe intellectual disability.
In psychiatric studies, 'idiot' was once a technical term for a person with a very low IQ
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Technical
noun
A person who is ignorant or uninformed.
He's an idiot when it comes to modern technology.
Often appears as...
- political idiot
- technical idiot
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
In a legal context, a person who is considered incapable of understanding the nature of a transaction.
The law protected so-called 'idiots' from entering into legally binding agreements.
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Casual Insult
Used casually among friends, it might be less offensive but still be careful with usage.
You forgot the tickets? You're such an idiot!
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
While sometimes playful, it's essentially negative and can hurt feelings.
Calling someone an idiot can be very hurtful.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Professional
Avoid using 'idiot' in professional or formal settings as it's inappropriate.
In a business meeting, never call a colleague an idiot.
Pro Tip 1/3Casual Insult
Used casually among friends, it might be less offensive but still be careful with usage.
You forgot the tickets? You're such an idiot!
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
While sometimes playful, it's essentially negative and can hurt feelings.
Calling someone an idiot can be very hurtful.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Professional
Avoid using 'idiot' in professional or formal settings as it's inappropriate.
In a business meeting, never call a colleague an idiot.
Pro Tip 1/3Casual Insult
Used casually among friends, it might be less offensive but still be careful with usage.
You forgot the tickets? You're such an idiot!
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
While sometimes playful, it's essentially negative and can hurt feelings.
Calling someone an idiot can be very hurtful.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Professional
Avoid using 'idiot' in professional or formal settings as it's inappropriate.
In a business meeting, never call a colleague an idiot.
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Video examples
The science of stage...
That fear of being seen as an awful idiot is a threat reaction from a primitive part of your brain that's very hard to control. It's the fight or flight response, a self-protective process seen in a range of animals, most of which don't give speeches. But we have a wise partner in the study of freaking out.
Video examples
Larry Smith: Why you...
You're too lazy to do it. It's too hard. You're afraid if you look for your passion and don't find it, you'll feel like you're an idiot, so then you make excuses about why you're not going to look for your passion. They are excuses, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to go through a whole long list --
Video examples
Give yourself permission...
and they all told him, "Don't you know that everybody thinks you're an idiot, and the whole country's making fun of you?" And he said, "That's my job. I'm a poet, and I'm going to play the fool. Most people have to go to work all day long, and they come home and they fight with their spouse,
Video examples
How changing your story...
And I want you to look at the supporting characters. Who are the people who are helping you to uphold the wrong version of this story? For instance, if the woman who wrote me that letter told her friends what happened, they would probably offer her what's called "idiot compassion."
Video examples
Cop Killer PIPE National...
and I just know it I know what we're not asking I know the idiots got the gun oh honey and I'm thinking to myself well I can't just blatantly ask Steve if he's got a gun in his pocket and I said tell me you still don't have that fire problem in your pocket yeah I do I'm
Video examples
Why we love, why we...
focus on what they do, and move in a more step-by-step thinking pattern. They're both perfectly good ways of thinking. We need both of them to get ahead. In fact, there's many more male geniuses in the world. And there's also many more male idiots in the world.
Video examples
The greatest TED Talk...
like a bunch of blundering idiots what do you think the response is gonna be I the responses mostly will be no but as the toughest cell because the felmers tough sell because of me both that meaning I'm not so optimistic so can you help me I need help I can
Video examples
A Grumpy Shoebill...
idiots oh hang on come through neil we're on the patio oh lovely morning for a spot jogging oh that's a nasty cloud in the sky looks like it's gonna uh it's gonna rain oh i better get back inside i don't want something to count
Video examples
Why should you read...
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Video examples
How to deal with...
words of adoration and words of contempt you're stupid idiot and I wish you had never been born when I confronted her about having said this to me I was told
Video examples
The science of stage...
That fear of being seen as an awful idiot is a threat reaction from a primitive part of your brain that's very hard to control. It's the fight or flight response, a self-protective process seen in a range of animals, most of which don't give speeches. But we have a wise partner in the study of freaking out.
Video examples
Larry Smith: Why you...
You're too lazy to do it. It's too hard. You're afraid if you look for your passion and don't find it, you'll feel like you're an idiot, so then you make excuses about why you're not going to look for your passion. They are excuses, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to go through a whole long list --
Video examples
Give yourself permission...
and they all told him, "Don't you know that everybody thinks you're an idiot, and the whole country's making fun of you?" And he said, "That's my job. I'm a poet, and I'm going to play the fool. Most people have to go to work all day long, and they come home and they fight with their spouse,
Video examples
How changing your story...
And I want you to look at the supporting characters. Who are the people who are helping you to uphold the wrong version of this story? For instance, if the woman who wrote me that letter told her friends what happened, they would probably offer her what's called "idiot compassion."
Video examples
Cop Killer PIPE National...
and I just know it I know what we're not asking I know the idiots got the gun oh honey and I'm thinking to myself well I can't just blatantly ask Steve if he's got a gun in his pocket and I said tell me you still don't have that fire problem in your pocket yeah I do I'm
Video examples
Why we love, why we...
focus on what they do, and move in a more step-by-step thinking pattern. They're both perfectly good ways of thinking. We need both of them to get ahead. In fact, there's many more male geniuses in the world. And there's also many more male idiots in the world.
Video examples
The greatest TED Talk...
like a bunch of blundering idiots what do you think the response is gonna be I the responses mostly will be no but as the toughest cell because the felmers tough sell because of me both that meaning I'm not so optimistic so can you help me I need help I can
Video examples
A Grumpy Shoebill...
idiots oh hang on come through neil we're on the patio oh lovely morning for a spot jogging oh that's a nasty cloud in the sky looks like it's gonna uh it's gonna rain oh i better get back inside i don't want something to count
Video examples
Why should you read...
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Video examples
How to deal with...
words of adoration and words of contempt you're stupid idiot and I wish you had never been born when I confronted her about having said this to me I was told
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jon Richardson
English Comedian
A 'nidiot' is something different from an idiot. An idiot is someone whose problems are caused by not concentrating enough. A 'nidiot' is someone who makes his life more complicated by thinking too much rather than not enough. I'm not an idiot, but I'm definitely a 'nidiot'!
Quote examples
Gino D'Acampo
Italian Chef
I think if you're a good person and you show that you learned from all the mistakes that you made you move on with your life. Everybody will accept that. Only an idiot will not accept that or keep reminding you of it and keep pointing that finger.
Quote examples
Ralph Bunche
American Diplomat
We must fight as a race for everything that makes for a better country and a better world. We are dreaming idiots and trusting fools to do anything less.
Quote examples
Kevin Bacon
American Actor
Any idiot can get laid when they're famous. That's easy. It's getting laid when you're not famous that takes some talent.
Quote examples
Robert Scoble
American Author
People thought I was an idiot, but I saw social networks were going to be more important, and it turned out to be true.
Quote examples
Patricia Heaton
American Actress
Home life is a foreign environment for most guys. So it's natural to show them being idiots at home.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever.
Quote examples
George Jean Nathan
American Editor
Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.
Quote examples
David Draiman
American Musician
The world wants rock bands to be idiots.
Quote examples
Anthony Bourdain
American Author
I'm not afraid to look like an idiot.
Quote examples
Jon Richardson
English Comedian
A 'nidiot' is something different from an idiot. An idiot is someone whose problems are caused by not concentrating enough. A 'nidiot' is someone who makes his life more complicated by thinking too much rather than not enough. I'm not an idiot, but I'm definitely a 'nidiot'!
Quote examples
Gino D'Acampo
Italian Chef
I think if you're a good person and you show that you learned from all the mistakes that you made you move on with your life. Everybody will accept that. Only an idiot will not accept that or keep reminding you of it and keep pointing that finger.
Quote examples
Ralph Bunche
American Diplomat
We must fight as a race for everything that makes for a better country and a better world. We are dreaming idiots and trusting fools to do anything less.
Quote examples
Kevin Bacon
American Actor
Any idiot can get laid when they're famous. That's easy. It's getting laid when you're not famous that takes some talent.
Quote examples
Robert Scoble
American Author
People thought I was an idiot, but I saw social networks were going to be more important, and it turned out to be true.
Quote examples
Patricia Heaton
American Actress
Home life is a foreign environment for most guys. So it's natural to show them being idiots at home.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever.
Quote examples
George Jean Nathan
American Editor
Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.
Quote examples
David Draiman
American Musician
The world wants rock bands to be idiots.
Quote examples
Anthony Bourdain
American Author
I'm not afraid to look like an idiot.
Example 1 of 10
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