shlemiel
Born to fail
A shlemiel is a hapless, clumsy person who seems destined to bungle things—the one who spills the soup.
The word comes from Yiddish and carries affectionate exasperation rather than harsh judgment: He's a total shlemiel, but you can't help liking him.
Often paired with schlimazel, who is the unlucky one the soup lands on.
Pitiable, foolish nobody
- schmuckObnoxious, contemptible person
- nebbishIneffectual, timid person
- nudnikPestering, tedious person
- putzFoolish, worthless person
schnook · yutz · loser · sad sack · patsy · doormat · pushover · fall guy
Ineffectual, timid person
- schmuckObnoxious, contemptible person
- schmoPitiable, foolish nobody
- schnookPitiful, gullible person
- putzFoolish, worthless person
nudnik · klutz · kvetch · chutzpah · maven · mensch · schmaltz · schmooze
Awkward, graceless person
- butterfingersClumsy dropper of things
- bumblingClumsily incompetent
- fumblerOne who mishandles objects
- stumblerOne who falters
blunderer · oaf · clod · lummox · galoot · ham-handed · awkward · ungainly
Afflicted with misfortune
- haplessLacking good fortune
- lucklessWithout good fortune
- ill-fatedDestined to fail
- star-crossedDoomed by destiny
cursed · snakebit · doomed · unfortunate · misfortune · hard luck · bad break · ill-starred
schmo
Pitiable, foolish nobody
- schmuckObnoxious, contemptible person
- nebbishIneffectual, timid person
- nudnikPestering, tedious person
putz · schnook · yutz · loser · sad sack · patsy · doormat · pushover · fall guy · bungler
nebbish
Ineffectual, timid person
putz · nudnik · klutz · kvetch · chutzpah · maven · mensch · schmaltz · schmooze · shtick
klutz
Awkward, graceless person
- butterfingersClumsy dropper of things
- bumblingClumsily incompetent
- fumblerOne who mishandles objects
stumbler · blunderer · oaf · clod · lummox · galoot · ham-handed · awkward · ungainly · maladroit
jinxed
Afflicted with misfortune
star-crossed · cursed · snakebit · doomed · unfortunate · misfortune · hard luck · bad break · ill-starred · woebegone
shlemielgolden boy
Favored person destined for success
lucky dog · fair-haired boy · winner · wunderkind · lucky devil
shlemielbig shot
Influential, powerful person
somebody · VIP · big cheese · pillar of the community · man about town