Not the sharpest bulb in the shed
Posted: August 3, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, not the brightest light bulb in the pack, not the sharpest tool in the shed, words 4 CommentsIn our continuing series of confused phrases describing not so intelligent people, Darleen DiGirolamo brings us this one from the website Lucid Nation. It’s a mash up of “not the sharpest tool in the shed” and “not the brightest bulb in the pack (or chandelier)”, both describing a slow-witted or dull person. There are lots of descriptions of slow-witted folk, and so they are bound to get mixed up in true malaphor fashion. Here are a few examples previously posted on this site:
“He wasn’t the brightest bulb in the basket”
“He’s not the sharpest light bulb in the pack”
You’re not the brightest toolbox in the shed”
“not the brightest tool in the shed”
A big thanks to Darleen DiGirolamo for spotting this one! @lucidnation
Malaphors 
It’s not rocket surgery.
That is a classic one, Ron, but I have posted it previously – see https://malaphors.com/2013/02/02/the-kids-dont-have-to-be-rocket-surgeons/. Keep ’em coming and tell Darleen I said hi! Dave
I love mixing metaphors. In fact, I actively look for 2 similar metaphors to mash together. It makes it more fun. I also like to see if the people I am talking to pick up on it. Our minds often decipher the meaning anyway, read between the wrong end of a stick. (That’s not very good! Let me know if you have a better one) and people don’t even notice. Rocket Surgery and Brain Science are probably the 2 most popular.
Finding this webpage is like finding the end of a haystack. I’m as happy as a pig is long!
Thanks for signing up. I send out usually 2-3 weekly that I received from folks around the world. The malaphor has to be unintentional to be a bonafide one. Sports and political talk shows seem to be goldmines for them. If you hear one send it in! Dave