toys in the attic
Not quite right
Toys in the attic describes a state of mental instability or eccentricity—someone whose mind isn't quite right.
The phrase evokes forgotten playthings in a dusty space overhead, suggesting thoughts that have gone askew or been left to gather cobwebs: He's got toys in the attic.
The expression is informal and somewhat dated, often used affectionately rather than clinically.
- insaneSeverely mentally disturbed
- dollsToy human figures
- memoriesStored past experiences
- figurineSmall ornamental sculpture
- cobwebsAbandoned spider silk
clutter · nostalgia · dust · eccentricity · boxes · Aerosmith · whimsy · forgotten · hidden · treasure trove · imagination · storage · subconscious · mystery · instability · delusion · quirkiness · heirlooms
toys in the atticsane
Mentally healthy, clearheaded
of sound mind · all there · in one's right mind · rational · compos mentis
toys in the atticsharp
Fine-edged, or astute
lucid · clear-headed · sharp as a tack · quick-witted · astute