English Reference
Idiom idiom

average bear


The norm; an average person; Used in comparisons

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He is not your average bear when it comes to math.

CONTEXTUAL

She is not your average bear, as she speaks five languages and plays three instruments.

COMPLEX

While most candidates offered standard solutions, he proved he was not your average bear by proposing a radical, innovative strategy.


disputed origin

After the cartoon character Yogi Bear, said to be "smarter than the average bear".


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    average joe

    Alternative spelling of average Joe.

  2. 02

    average up

    To calculate an average or rough figure.

  3. 03

    bad news bears

    Said of someone or something that will bring disaster or bad fortune to one.

  4. 04

    bear a hand

    To make haste; to help quickly.

  5. 05

    bear away the bell

    To be superior in something.

  6. 06

    bear fruit

    To produce good results; to yield benefits; to succeed.

  7. 07

    bear in mind

    To hold (something) in the memory; to remember; also, to be mindful of or pay attention to (something); to consider; to note.

  8. 08

    bear oneself

    To behave and conduct oneself in a particular manner.

Last updated August 10, 2026