Etymology Journal · N
Not the sharpest tool in the shed
Meaning
- When you use this phrase, you are remarking that someone lacks common sense or quick thinking. It is a classic way to mock someone's intelligence without being overly aggressive.
Sassy, folksy
Used in a sentence
- He asked me if the ocean was salty, so I have to say he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
- I hope you are not expecting much from him because he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
- She really thought that paint was actually pudding, so let's agree she is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
The backstory
This is a variation of many metaphors that compare a person to a dull object. It gained massive popularity in the 1990s through pop culture, though it likely existed in rural areas for decades before.
Heard in
Nationwide
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