See also: bird brain

English

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Etymology

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From bird +‎ brain, implying that birds, having small brains, are unintelligent (although this is untrue for many birds).

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbɜː(ɹ)d.bɹeɪn/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈbɚd.bɹeɪn/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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birdbrain (plural birdbrains)

  1. (colloquial) Someone who is not intelligent.
    That birdbrain just drove right through three rows of traffic cones and into the bushes.
    • 1950 February 27, Time, page 38:
      Comedienne Carol Channing, 29, admitted that a grave personal problem had grown out of her playing the role of birdbrained Lorelei Lee in Broadway’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. People seemed to be convinced that she is a birdbrain offstage, too: “I won't say that people actually think I’m just two steps removed from outright idiocy, but they do seem to have adopted a protective attitude towards me...”

Translations

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