a few, two, etc. bricks short of a load

a few bricks shy of a load

A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. It can appear in many different forms and variations (for example: a few sandwiches short of a picnic, a few cards shy of a full deck, etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be a few bricks shy of a load. There's an old lady who stands on the corner yelling at strangers all day. I think she might be a few bricks shy of a load, if you catch my drift. Tommy's a few bricks shy of a load if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday.

See also: brick, few, load, of, shy

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a few, two, etc. ˌbricks short of a ˈload

(also a few, two, etc. ˌsandwiches short of a ˈpicnic) (informal) (of a person) not very intelligent; slightly crazy: If you ask me, I think he must be one or two sandwiches short of a picnic! OPPOSITE: all there

The structure a few, two, etc....short of a(n)... is often used to make new idioms, for example a few cards short of a deck, a few letters short of an alphabet.

See also: brick, load, of, short

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017