Ret's Word of the Day

Have a screw loose

/hæv ə ˈskruː luːs/

(Pronounced: hav uh skroo loos)

Definition

The meaning: Have a screw loose refers to someone who is acting strangely or appears to have an unusual way of thinking, suggesting a lack of proper judgment or mental stability.

Have a screw loose signifie que quelqu'un agit de manière étrange ou qu'il semble manquer de jugement ou de stabilité mentale.

Example: "Sometimes I think my neighbour has a screw loose; he talks to his plants for hours!"

Word Analysis

In French

Avoir une case en moins
Être un peu dérangé
Avoir un grain
Être un peu fou/folle
Être détraqué(e)
Marcher à coté de ses pompes
Avoir une araignée au plafond

Synonyms

Have a few loose marbles
Have a loose wire
Losing touch
Have a slate loose
Behaving irrationally
Have bats in the belfry

Antonyms

Being logical
Sound mind
Mentally stable
Have one's head screwed on right
Clear-headedness

Example Dialogue

Thebe: "Did you see Mr. Lebo trying to train his goldfish to jump through hoops?"
Palesa: "Yeah, I think he has a screw loose!"
Thebe: "It's either that, or he's just really bored."
Palesa: "Either way, it's pretty entertaining to watch!"

Etymology

The origin of the phrase have a screw loose is believed to date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. It likely stems from the idea of machinery or mechanical devices with a loose screw, leading to improper functioning or erratic behavior.

Mechanical Metaphor: The phrase draws a comparison between a machine that isn't working correctly due to a loose screw and a person behaving in a strange or irrational manner. This metaphor gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the Industrial Revolution, when machinery and mechanical devices became more common.

The phrase has since evolved into a colloquial expression to describe someone who seems a bit eccentric or mentally unbalanced, though it is often used humorously or lightheartedly.

Audience

Have a screw loose is a colloquial expression widely understood in informal contexts. It's commonly used in conversations to describe someone exhibiting eccentric, strange, or irrational behavior.

When to use: Have a screw loose is best suited for casual or humorous situations. It’s often used lightheartedly to comment on quirky or odd behavior, though it can occasionally carry a slightly negative connotation, so care should be taken when using it in sensitive contexts.

Dictionary Meaning

Have a screw loose [idiom]: The Free Dictionary defines it as 'To be or seem particularly silly, eccentric, crazy, or mentally unstable.' It provides the following two examples: 'That guy on the corner must have a screw loose or something, because he's been standing out there yelling obscenities at passersby all morning' and 'My old uncle Pete has a few screws loose, but he's a really nice guy.'

News Snippet

"I think Jake [Paul] making this fight happen shows us that he recognizes, 'I don't want to wait five months.' It's not going to have the same time of enthusiasm to wait that long for a Mike Tyson fight. We're still going to watch it, but to give us something in-between, and it's a risky fight, just kind of shows that he has a screw loose, but he also knows if he does well, right, his brand is just going to keep going to the top." [Sportskeeda.com]

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Common Idioms and Expressions

"Have a screw loose": Be slightly eccentric, or act in a way that others find irrational.
"Screw loose somewhere": Suggests that sb's thinking or behaviour might be a bit off.
"Tighten the screws": Put sb under pressure, often to make them reveal information.
"Screwy ideas": Unusual or eccentric thoughts or plans. Like those of Trump's brain farts.
"Lose one's marbles": Like 'have a screw loose.' Indicates sb behaving irrationally.

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