be one brick short of a (full) load
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 card shy of a full deck," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be one brick short of a load. The new manager is nice enough, but he's one brick short of a full load, if you ask me. Tommy's one brick short of a load if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
a brick short of a load
or one brick short of a load
If you say that someone is a brick short of a load or one brick short of a load, you mean that they are stupid or crazy. He doesn't seem scared about the fight, but then he is a brick short of a load. She was rushing around, one brick short of a load, upsetting everyone.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
a brick short of a load
(of a person) stupid. informal This is one of a number of humorous variations on the theme of someone not possessing their proper share of brains or intelligence; compare, for example, with a sandwich short of a picnic (at sandwich).
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017