FEW CARDS SHORT OF A DECK

few cards short of a deck: translation

a few bricks short of a load & a few cards shy of a full deck & a few cards short of a deck & not playing with a full deck & two bricks shy of a load

Fig. lacking in intellectual ability. (Many other variants.) •

Tom: Joe thinks he can build a car out of old milk jugs. Mary: I think Joe's a few bricks short of a load.

•

Ever since she fell and hit her head, Jane's been a few bricks short of a load, if you know what I'm saying.

•

Bob's nice, but he's not playing with a full deck.

•

You twit! You're two bricks shy of a load.