be several cards short of a deck
To be not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., "a few sandwiches short of a picnic," "one brick short of a load.," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be several cards short of a deck. The new manager is nice enough, but he's several cards short of a deck, if you ask me. Tommy's several cards short of a deck if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday.
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