A schlemiel is an inept and clumsy person, often referred to as a habitual bungler.
An inept, clumsy person; a habitual bungler.
| Front | schlemiel or schlemihl or shlemiel \shluh-MEEL\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun An inept, clumsy person: a habitual bungler. [From Yiddish shlemil, from Hebrew Shelumiel, a Biblical and Talmudic figure who met an unhappy end, according to the Talmud. Earliest documented use: 1892. No discussion of schlemiel would be complete without mentioning schlimazel, one prone to having bad luck. In a restaurant, a schlemiel is the waiter who spills soup, and a schlimazel is the diner on whom it lands.] "Warren is an endearing schlemiel who is all awkward gestures, inexpressive shrugs, and with a physical clumsiness." - Set Misses Mark But Cast's Touch is Sure; Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand); Mar 3, 2008. |
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