dumb

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dumb bunny

A stupid, silly, or naïve person, usually used in an affectionate or endearing (if condescending) manner. Ah, don't mind him; he's just a dumb bunny, but he is harmless. Oh, my darling! You are the sweetest dumb bunny I've ever known.

dumb (something) down

To make something less complicated to accommodate a less intelligent, educated, or sophisticated audience. The professor decided to dumb down the course material a bit after most of his class failed the first exam. I think we ought to dumb the play down a bit; after all, most of the people coming to see it won't have a PhD in drama.

play dumb

To pretend that one has no or little knowledge (of something); to act ignorant or uninformed (about something). I don't think I'm supposed to know that Rick is getting fired, so I'm just going to play dumb the next time I see him. A: "Did Tammy ask you about my date with Steve?" B: "Yeah, but I played dumb about it. I just couldn't handle more of her drama today."

strike (someone) dumb

To render someone speechless, as due to a great surprise or shock. My father's sudden resignation from the company struck each of us dumb.

be struck dumb

To be rendered speechless or dumbfounded, as due to a great surprise or shock. We were all struck dumb by my father's announcement that he was resigning from the company.

a dumb priest never got a parish

You'll never get what you want if you don't ask for it. Although I'm nervous, I'm going to ask my boss for a raise. After all, a dumb priest never got a parish, so what's the worst that can happen if I ask?

dumb shit

1. rude slang Something stupid or trivial. I won't argue with you about this dumb shit for a second longer!

2. rude slang A stupid person. Listen, you dumb shit, I'm in charge here, so you better do what I say! Oh right, like I would listen to him—he's a dumb shit!

play ignorant

To pretend that one has no or little knowledge (of something); to act ignorant or uninformed (about something) I don't think I'm supposed to know that Rick is getting fired, so I'm just going to play ignorant the next time I see him. A: "Did Tammy ask you about my date with Steve?" B: "Yeah, but I played ignorant about it. I just couldn't handle more of her drama today." A: "What vase?" B: "Don't play ignorant with me! You know which one I mean!"

deaf and dumb

rude Unable to hear or speak. I'm afraid that the head trauma has left Lady Edwina deaf and dumb, so we will need to find a new way to communicate with her.

deaf and dumb

unable to hear or speak. (Used without any intended malice, but no longer considered polite. Sometimes euphemized as "hearing and speech impaired.") Fred objected to being called deaf and dumb. Aunt Clara—she was deaf and dumb, you know—lived to be over 100.

How dumb do you think I am?

Inf. Your question is insulting. I am not stupid. (Shows agitation. An answer is not expected or desired.) Mary: Are you really going to sell your new car? Sally: Come on! How dumb do you think I am? Tom: Do you think you could sneak into that theater without paying? Bob: Good grief! How dumb do you think I am?

play ignorant

and play dumb

to pretend to be ignorant [of something]. I played ignorant even though I knew about the surprise party. John played dumb when I asked him if he knew who had been on the telephone.

dumb bunny

A stupid person, as in She was a bit of a dumb bunny but very nice. This expression implies some toleration or endearment of the person. [c. 1920]

dumb as a post

AMERICAN, INFORMAL

If you describe someone as dumb as a post, you mean that they are very stupid. She's one of the most famous physicists in the country, and she's dumb as a post!

be struck ˈdumb (with something)

be suddenly unable to speak (because of shock, fear, etc.): We were struck dumb at the sight of three armed soldiers in the kitchen. ♢ The witnesses were struck dumb with terror. ▶ ˈdumbstruck adj.: When I found out that I had won first prize, I was dumbstruck.

dumb down

v. Slang

To simplify something excessively in order to make it suitable for a less educated or less sophisticated audience: The researchers dumbed down the report before releasing it to the public.

dumb bunny

n. a stupid person; an oaf. Who’s the dumb bunny in the double-knits?

dumb cluck

n. a stupid oaf; a person as stupid as a chicken. Sally is not a dumb cluck, but she is sort of slow.

dumb Dora

n. a stupid woman; a giddy woman. Who’s the dumb Dora with the blonde hair and long fingernails?

dumb ox

n. a large and stupid person, usually a man. Do you think I’m going to argue with that big dumb ox?

dumb-ass

and stupid-ass

1. mod. stupid; dumb. (Usually derogatory.) That was a real dumb-ass thing to do. That is so stupid-ass!

2. n. a stupid person. (Rude and derogatory.) Don’t be such a dumb-ass! You know what I mean!

dumb-dodo

(ˈdəmˈdodo)

n. a very stupid person. What a dumb-dodo you are!

dumb-dumb

and dum-dum

n. a stupid oaf; a dullard. Marvin is no dum-dum. He just looks that way.

dumb Dora

A dimwit female. The phrase was popularized by George Burns and Gracie Allen's vaudeville act in which Gracie played the hysterically illogical character that she later made famous under her own name during the pair's radio and television career. Chic Young, better known for his Blondie comic strip, illustrated a foolish flapper named Dumb Dora. The cartoon lasted under several other illustrators from 1924 till 1935, well before “dumb blonde” became all the rage.