squirrel
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ain't got the brains God gave a squirrel
Is very foolish or lacking common sense. Jimmy almost crossed the street without looking up from his cell phone. He ain't got the brains God gave a squirrel! I'm baffled by most things I see on the local news—fools driving cars into houses and doing all sorts of nonsensical things. It's like most people ain't got the brains God gave a squirrel! A: "Todd just put a pizza in the oven for 30 minutes without first turning it on." B: "Whew, that boy ain't got the brains God gave a squirrel."
even a blind squirrel can find a nut
Even people who are usually wrong can be right sometimes, even if just by accident. Usually followed by "sometimes," "once in a while," "now and then," etc. I know Dad is usually out of touch about these things, but even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while! A: "You know how I feel about the mayor, but even I think he's right this time." B: "Even a blind squirrel can find a nut now and then, I guess."
even a blind squirrel finds a nut
Even people who are usually wrong can be right sometimes, even if just by accident. Usually followed by "sometimes," "once in a while," "now and then," etc. I know Dad is usually out of touch about these things, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while! A: "You know how I feel about the mayor, but even I think he's right this time." B: "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then, I guess."
ground squirrel
A burrowing rodent of the squirrel family more commonly known as a gopher. You can really tell that spring is here when the ground squirrels start coming out again.
seam-squirrel
A louse that has infested clothing or linens. Typically used in the plural. No way am I staying in such a crappy motel! Their beds are probably crawling with seam-squirrels! Our uniforms were so thoroughly infested with seam-squirrels that there was nothing left to do but burn them.
squirrel around
1. To move erratically from place to place. We squirreled around trying to find a doctor in the resort who could help us.
2. To writhe or squirm in an erratic manner. The dog was squirreling around in my arms as I tried to give it the vaccination. The suspect squirreled around in his chair during the interview, obviously nervous.
3. Of thoughts or emotions, to occur or jumble in an erratic or chaotic manner. I get so many anxious thoughts squirreling around in my head at night that I find it hard to fall asleep.
squirrel away
To hide, reserve, or hoard something for future use. A noun or pronoun can be used between "squirrel" and "away." I've been squirreling away a little bit of money each so that I can afford a trip to Spain next summer. It turns out she'd been squirreling office supplies away in the filing cabinet near her desk. The company has been accused of squirreling away huge amounts of customers' data, which it then implemented into its advertising algorithms across its various platforms.
squirrel food
slang One or more nuts. Squirrel food makes for a great a snack when you're on a high-protein, low-carb diet.
squirrel out of (something)
1. To squirm, wiggle, or squeeze out of something. The cat managed to squirrel out of its cage at the veterinarian's office. Our toddler thinks it's hilarious to squirrel out of his diaper.
2. To avoid or escape from some situation, obligation, or responsibility through sly or devious means. Oh no, you're not squirreling out of doing the dishes this time! I tried to squirrel out of going to the party, but my husband is guilt-tripping me into coming with him.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
ain't got the brains God gave a squirrel
and ain't got the sense God gave geeseRur. is or are very foolish. There goes John, running around barefooted in the snow. He ain't got the brains God gave a squirrel. No use trying to explain anything to Jane. She ain't got the sense God gave geese.
squirrel something away
Fig. to hide something or store something in the way that a squirrel stores nuts for use in the winter. I squirreled a little money away for an occasion such as this. Liz squirreled away a lot of money while she was working.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
squirrel away
Hide or store, as in She squirreled away her savings in at least four different banks. This expression alludes to the squirrel's habit of hiding nuts and acorns in the ground. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
squirrel away
v.
To hide or store something: They have been squirreling away money in an offshore bank account. The children were squirreling candy away in their rooms.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
seam-squirrels
n. lice. (see also pants rabbits. Contrived.) I got an itch. Must be seam-squirrels.
squirrel
1. n. a strange or eccentric person. Martin can be such a squirrel.
2. n. a car engine’s horsepower. (Usually plural.) I got 440 squirrels and a gaggle of carburetors.
squirrel out of something
in. to wiggle out of something; to manage to extricate oneself from a situation one does not wish to be in. He will do anything he can to squirrel out of going to the dance.
squirrel something away
tv. to hide something in reserve. Here is some food. I squirreled it away in my suitcase.
squirrel-food
n. a nut; a loony person. The driver of the car—squirrel-food, for sure—just sat there smiling. Some squirrel-food came over and asked for a sky hook.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.