Etymology Journal ยท N
Not playing with a full deck
Meaning
- A humorous way to suggest someone is lacking in common sense or mental capacity. It is similar to saying someone is a bit crazy or dim.
Playful, gossipy
Used in a sentence
- I talked to him for five minutes and I am convinced he is not playing with a full deck.
- Our neighbor is always talking to his garden, definitely not playing with a full deck.
- She is nice enough, but she is clearly not playing with a full deck.
The backstory
This refers to the concept of a card game needing a complete set of cards to be played correctly. It entered the American lexicon in the mid-20th century as a common slur for eccentricity or low intelligence.
Heard in
Nationwide
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