a few bricks short of a (full) load

a few bricks short of a (full) 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 short of a load. The new manager is nice enough, but he's a few bricks short of a full load, if you ask me. Tommy's a few bricks short of a full load if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday.

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

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

few bricks short of a load

 and few cards shy of a full deck; few cards short of a deck; not playing with a full deck; two bricks shy of a load

Fig. lacking in intellectual ability. (Many other variants.) Tom: Joe thinks he can build a car out of old milk jugs. Mary: I think Joe's a few bricks short of a load. Ever since she fell and hit her head, Jane's been a few bricks short of a load, if you know what I'm saying. Bob's nice, but he's not playing with a full deck. You twit! You're two bricks shy of a load.

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

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.