klutz
noun/klʌts/ · Northern-England /klʊts/
Etymology From Yiddish קלאָץ (klots, literally “wooden beam”); cognate to German Klotz (“block, lump”). Doublet of clot and clod.
1
US, Derogatory A clumsy or stupid person.
- Well, that's all right, then, Brian. Sit down. Have a scone. Make yourself at home. You klutz!1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian, spoken by Reg (John Cleese):
- "Out of [one abortion doctor's] first six months of work, there are nine malpractice suits ... After it was apparent the guy was a klutz, they kept using him, and trying to cover for him, because they couldn't find another provider."1990 June 3, Dr. Robert Crist, abortion doctor, quotee, St. Petersburg Times:
2 more examples
- "Mel, back home we'd call you a klutz." / Melissa: "Use a lot of Yiddish back in Texas, do you?"2003, Greg Rucka, Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra:
- I bumped into the coffee table. "Sorry about that table. Don't worry, you should see me, Qanta. I am the klutz! I am always doing that!" She giggled at her clumsiness while I giggled at a Saudi using idiomatic Yiddish.2008, Qanta A. Ahmed, In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom:
- Derived terms
- klutzhood, klutzily, klutziness, klutzish, klutzy