Be mentally unstable or eccentric, as in Anyone who approves that purchase must have a screw loose. This term likens a mental weakness to a machine in which a part is not securely fastened. An antonym is have one's head screwed on right; for example, She's very capable; she has her head screwed on right. [
What does has a screw loose mean?
Definition of have a loose screw
informal. : to be crazy You've got to have a loose screw to think that's a good idea. You've got to have a few loose screws to think that's a good idea.
What is an example of a screw loose?
To be or seem particularly silly, eccentric, crazy, or mentally unstable. (Also worded as "have a loose screw.") That guy on the corner must have a screw loose or something, because he's been standing out there yelling obscenities at passersby all morning.
Where does the saying a screw loose come from?
“Have a screw loose” means “to be silly or eccentric”. Example: Yes, he has a screw loose somewhere. He wears a heavy jacket in the middle of summer. Origin: This idiom originates from the cotton industry and goes back to the 1780s, when textiles began to be mass produced during the industrial revolution.
Do you have a loose screw?
To be or seem particularly silly, eccentric, crazy, or mentally unstable. (Also written as "have a screw loose.") That guy on the corner must have a loose screw or something because he's been standing out there yelling obscenities at passersby all morning.
29 related questions foundIs saying screw loose offensive?
If you say that someone has a screw loose, you mean that they behave in a strange way and seem slightly mentally ill.
What is the meaning of straight from the horse's mouth?
From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse's mouth that he plans to retire next month. Also put as straight from the horse's mouth, this expression alludes to examining a horse's teeth to determine its age and hence its worth. [ 1920s]
What is the meaning of the idiom no time to lose?
Definition of lose no time
: to not delay She lost no time in getting the project started.
What is the meaning of in a pickle?
If you are in a pickle, you are in a difficult position, or have a problem to which no easy answer can be found. The word 'pickle' comes from the Dutch word 'pekel', meaning 'something piquant', and originally referred to a spiced, salted vinegar that was used as a preservative.
How do you unloose a screw?
- Make sure you've got the right size and shape of screwdriver. ...
- Be sure you're turning the screw in the proper direction. ...
- Put some penetrating oil or WD-40 on the screw and let it sit for a while. ...
- Apply some heat directly to the screw head using an electric soldering gun or a propane plumbing torch.
What does hands down mean in slang?
1 : without much effort : easily. 2 : without question.
Where to put yourself meaning?
DEFINITIONS1. to feel very embarrassed. Dad suddenly stood up and started dancing – I didn't know where to put myself. Synonyms and related words. To be, or to become ashamed or embarrassed.
What does the idiom go Dutch mean?
Definition of go Dutch
: to go to a movie, restaurant, etc., as a group with each person paying for his or her own ticket, food, etc. We went Dutch on dinner.
Are on the same page?
Definition of on the same page
: agreeing about something (such as how things should be done) Try to get employees and clients on the same page.
What does chewed him out mean?
phrasal verb. If you chew someone out, you tell them off in a very angry way. [informal] He chewed out the player, who apologized the next time I saw him. [ VERB PARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
What does bear with a sore head mean?
to behave in a very bad-tempered and angry way. Ever since we arrived here, you've been like a bear with a sore head.
What does give him the ax mean?
Definition of give (someone) the ax
informal. : to dismiss (someone) from a job : to fire (someone) His boss gave him the ax.
What does full of yourself means?
Conceited, self-centered, as in Ever since she won the prize Mary's been so full of herself that no one wants to talk to her. This expression uses full of in the sense of “engrossed with” or “absorbed with,” a usage dating from about 1600.
What is the meaning of chip off the old block?
Definition of chip off the old block
An expression used of people who closely resemble their parents in some way: “Mark just won the same sailboat race his father won twenty years ago; he's a chip off the old block.”
What is the context clues of eccentric?
Eccentric comes to us through Middle English from the Medieval Latin word eccentricus, but it is ultimately derived from a combination of the Greek words ex, meaning "out of," and kentron, meaning "center." The original meaning of eccentric in English was "not having the same center" (as in "eccentric spheres").
What does getting screwed mean?
It is often rendered in the passive, be or get screwed, meaning “be cheated, deceived, or defrauded.”
How do you drill out a screw without extractor?
Place a wide band rubber band flat in between the screw driver (we recommend bumping one size up from the screw head which caused the strip) and the screw, then apply hard, but slow force while turning the screw. If you're fortunate, the rubber band will fill in the gaps caused by the strip and allow extraction.