ENGLISH
REFERENCE

knuckle dragger

idiom
Meaning

A large, strong, and rather dimwitted person.


Origin

disputed origin

An allusion to the practice of some large primates of walking on all fours with their knuckles close to the ground.

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't listen to that knuckle dragger.

CONTEXTUAL

The bouncer at the club acted like a total knuckle dragger when he refused to listen to my explanation.

COMPLEX

Despite his imposing stature, he was no mere knuckle dragger, but a man of surprising intellect and quiet sensitivity.

Anchors to
Related idioms2entries
  1. 01

    knuckle down

    To get to work; to focus on a task.

  2. 02

    knuckle under

    To cooperate or yield when forced or pressured to do so.

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