shmo
Foolish ordinary guy
A shmo is a stupid, boring, or insignificant person—someone unremarkable or slightly pathetic: Some shmo from accounting.
The word comes from Yiddish and carries mild contempt or dismissal rather than strong insult.
Also spelled schmo.
The related schmuck is harsher.
- nebbishIneffectual, timid person
- shlepCarry laboriously
- oyYiddish sigh of dismay
- yutzInept, clueless person
- schmoozeChat to gain favor
shlemiel · schlub · shtick · kvetch · mensch · hapless · klutz · everyman · regular guy · fool · simpleton · shlock · blockhead · doormat · nitwit · bungler · dolt · dope
intelligence/competence
shmogenius
Person of rare brilliance
mastermind · whiz · brainiac · intellectual · savant
social status/remarkability
shmoVIP
Notable, for short
somebody · big shot · hotshot · mover and shaker · bigwig
social agency/savvy
shmosophisticate
Worldly, cultured person
wheeler-dealer · slickster · hustler · smooth operator · sharpie