Work, Success & Motivation - Intelligence & Mental Ability

Here you will find slang for intelligence and mental ability, reflecting casual ways people describe smarts, wit, and cognitive skills.

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brainiac [noun]

a person who is extremely intelligent or academically gifted

Ex: Everyone asks the brainiac for help with homework .

whiz [noun]

a person who is extremely skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area

Ex: He 's a real whiz at fixing computers .

quick on the uptake [phrase]

able to understand or grasp things rapidly

Ex:

nerd [noun]

an intellectual, often introverted person, sometimes teased for their interests

Ex: Being a nerd did n't stop him from making friends online .

geek [noun]

someone who has a great deal of knowledge and passion for computers and related topics

Ex: He attended the tech conference to network with fellow geeks and learn about emerging trends in the industry .

big brain [adjective]

extremely intelligent or clever, often used sarcastically online

Ex:

on the ball [phrase]

quick to comprehend and respond to things

Ex: She 's on the ball during meetings , asking insightful questions and providing valuable input .

(smart|sharp) cookie [phrase]

a person who is clever and has a strong personality

Ex:

to [think] on {one's} feet [phrase]

to think and react quickly to something without prior thought

Ex: In a crisis , a good leader needs to be able to think on their feet and make decisions under pressure .

galaxy-brain [adjective]

seeming insightful or profound but actually absurd, overcomplicated, or nonsensical

Ex:

the brains of the operation [phrase]

the person in a group who does the thinking, planning, or strategizing

Ex:

doofus [noun]

someone acting silly, foolish, or lacking common sense

Ex: Those doofuses could n't figure out the directions .

dork [noun]

a socially awkward, silly, or unfashionable person, often with quirky or old-fashioned interests

Ex: Those dorks spent the afternoon playing board games .

airhead [noun]

a person who is forgetful, absent-minded, or not very intelligent

Ex: That airhead thought the test was next week .

ditz [noun]

a silly, scatterbrained, or unintelligent person, often used in a lighthearted or teasing manner

Ex: He 's not a ditz — he just acts like one sometimes .

brain-dead [adjective]

acting extremely unintelligent, foolish, or incapable of thinking clearly

Ex:

to [lack] brain cells [phrase]

to act extremely stupid or clueless; often used jokingly online

Ex:

smooth brain [noun]

someone perceived as lacking intelligence or critical thinking

Ex:

wrinkly brain [noun]

someone perceived as intelligent or capable of deep thinking

Ex:

pea brain [noun]

someone that is very unintelligent or foolish

Ex: She called him a pea brain after he completely ignored the instructions .

404 [adjective]

mentally lost, confused, or clueless, like a web page that can not be found

Ex:

411 [noun]

the latest information, gossip, or news about something

Ex:

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