The Elevator Doesn’t Go to the Top Floor 🛗
Definition: Describing someone who is simple-minded or not very intelligent. The ’top floor’ in this idiom denotes the brain.
Synonyms and Similar Expressions:
- A Few Bricks Shy of a Load: Indicating someone is lacking intellect.
- Not Playing With a Full Deck: Refers to a person who isn’t acting sensibly. Popular in poker contexts.
- Having Only One Oar in the Water: Suggests someone is not fully in touch with reality or is intellectually lacking.
- The Lights Are On, But Nobody’s Home: Similar in meaning, indicating a person appears present but isn’t mentally engaged.
- A Sandwich Short of a Picnic: Playful way to say someone isn’t very bright.
- Not the Sharpest Tool in the Shed: Another idiom that denotes a lack of sharpness mentally.
Antonyms:
- Sharp as a Tack: Someone very intelligent and quick.
- Bright as a Button: Denoting extreme cleverness.
- A Class Act: Implies sophistication and intelligence.
- Sharp-witted: Quick, keen intellect.
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but they clearly can’t even find the tunnel.”
- “He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but at least he’s not a rusty nail.”
- “Sure, he’s a few fries short of a Happy Meal, but aren’t we all sometimes?”
Proverbs and References:
- Proverbs: “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.” – Ghanaian Proverb
- Literature: “Foolishness is indeed never very far from wickedness.” – Jane Austen, “Sense and Sensibility.”
- Movies: Forrest Gump - “Stupid is as stupid does.”
- Poetry: From a comedic poem - “He was so dim, even his shadow had mistaken him for a ghost.”
Suggested Literature, Books, Songs, Poems, and Movies:
- Books: The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Songs: Fool On The Hill by The Beatles
- Poems: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll (For its playful use of nonsense)
- Movies: Dumb and Dumber (A fitting comedic take on the concept)
Inspirational Thought:
“Remember, even the dullest knife in the drawer still cuts. Embrace your quirks and shine in your unique way!”
Quizzes:
### Which of these idioms mean someone isn't very bright?
- [x] A few bricks shy of a load
- [ ] Sharp as a tack
- [x] Not playing with a full deck
- [ ] Bright as a button
> **Explanation:** "A few bricks shy of a load" and "Not playing with a full deck" mean someone isn't very bright. "Sharp as a tack" and "Bright as a button" indicate intelligence.
### Identify the genuine phrase:
- [x] Not the sharpest tool in the shed
- [ ] Juggling with rubber ducks
- [ ] Singing like a broken car alarm
- [ ] Racing with wooden wheels
> **Explanation:** "Not the sharpest tool in the shed" is a genuine phrase implying someone isn't very involved mentally.
### True or False: "The elevator doesn't go to the top floor" signifies someone might be simple-minded.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. This phrase describes someone who isn't very intelligent or aware.
### Which phrase indicates sharp intelligence?
- [ ] A few sandwiches short of a picnic
- [x] Sharp as a tack
- [ ] One oar in the water
- [ ] The lights are on, but nobody's home
> **Explanation:** "Sharp as a tack" indicates sharp intelligence, while the others suggest someone is not very bright.
### Which one of these idioms is synonymous with "not playing with a full deck"?
- [x] A few bricks shy of a load
- [ ] Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
- [x] Only one oar in the water
- [ ] A class act
> **Explanation:** Both "A few bricks shy of a load" and "Only one oar in the water" indicate someone isn’t fully mentally present, similar to "not playing with a full deck."
