few sandwiches short of a picnic: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    General English (literal)neutralMachine
    • Literally, having fewer sandwiches than expected for a picnic; lacking the full complement of picnic provisions.

    Examples

    Beta

    • We packed everything for the picnic except we were a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

      Empacamos todo para el picnic, excepto que nos faltaban algunos sándwiches.

    • Realizing they were a few sandwiches short of a picnic, they quickly stopped at the deli to buy more food.

      Al darse cuenta de que les faltaban algunos sándwiches para el picnic, se detuvieron rápidamente en la charcutería para comprar más comida.

    • The basket was almost ready, but it was a few sandwiches short of a picnic, so we had to prepare more.

      La canasta estaba casi lista, pero faltaban algunos sándwiches para el picnic, así que tuvimos que preparar más.

    • They discovered they were a few sandwiches short of a picnic only when guests started arriving.

      Descubrieron que les faltaban algunos sándwiches para el picnic solo cuando comenzaron a llegar los invitados.

  • 2.

    British EnglishIrish EnglishAustralian EnglishAmerican EnglishinformalhumorouspejorativeMachine
    • Figuratively, mentally deficient, eccentric, or not fully sane; displaying foolishness, poor judgment, or odd behaviour.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Everyone thinks he’s a bit off—like he’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

      Todos piensan que está un poco raro, como si le faltaran algunos sándwiches para el picnic.

    • She behaves strangely sometimes, definitely a few sandwiches short of a picnic if you ask me.

      A veces se comporta de manera extraña, definitivamente un poco loca si me preguntas.

    • Don’t expect him to understand complex ideas; he’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

      No esperes que entienda ideas complejas; está un poco perdido.

Examples:

  • EN: He's a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
    ES: Creo que se comió una hormiga de más.
  • EN: You're a few sandwiches short of a picnic, love.
    ES: Te faltan unos cuantos sándwiches para un picnic, cariño.
    ID: Kau hanya butuh beberapa roti lapis untuk piknik, Sayang.
  • EN: Well, he might be a few sandwiches short of a picnic, but he'll do.
    ES: A veces le falta un hervor, pero me basta.
    ID: Yah, dia mungkin memang kurang cerdas, tapi lumayan.
  • EN: As soon as I met him, I thought he was a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
    ES: Tan pronto como lo conocí, pensé que le faltaban unos sándwiches para un picnic.
    ID: Tidak. Begitu aku bertemu dia, kupikir dia roti lapis piknik bodoh.

Related Idioms

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Source: Wiktionary