# half a brain

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/half-a-brain
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A very basic or minimal level of intelligence.

## Examples

- Anyone with half a brain knows that fire is hot.
- You do not need to be a genius to solve this; anyone with half a brain can figure it out.
- The instructions were so incredibly straightforward that even a person with half a brain could have followed them without making a single error.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.