not the sharpest crayon in the box
A bit dim
Not the sharpest crayon in the box describes someone who is slow-witted or unintelligent.
The phrase belongs to a family of similar idioms—not the brightest bulb, not the sharpest tool in the shed—all using understatement to call someone dim: He means well, but he's not the sharpest crayon in the box.
- dim bulbIntellectually sluggish person
- not the brightest bulbLacking intelligence or wit
- few cards short of a full deckNot fully mentally competent
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- tongue-in-cheekHumorously not meant literally
verbal irony · reasoning · comprehension · lights are on but nobody's home · judgment · common sense · slow on the uptake · sharp as a marble · playful banter · quick-wittedness · witticism · stereotype · airhead · bless their heart · decision-making · analytical thinking · simpleton · problem-solving
not the sharpest crayon in the boxgenius
Person of rare brilliance
brilliant · sharp as a tack · bright · whip-smart · brainy
not the sharpest crayon in the boxcompetent
Sufficiently able, qualified
on the ball · knows their stuff · quick study · ace · whiz
sharpen, sharpened, sharpening, sharpener, sharper, sharpest, sharply, sharpness, crayon