Adjective
/ˈæd.əlˌbreɪnd/
The term "addle-brained" refers to someone who is confused, foolish, or has cloudy thinking. It is often used to describe a person who lacks clarity of thought or is unable to think clearly. The word is relatively infrequently used in modern English and tends to appear more in written contexts, such as literature or formal writing.
Translation: Las decisiones tomadas por los oficiales aturdidos llevaron a una situación caótica en la ciudad.
She felt addle-brained after staying up all night studying for exams.
Translation: Se sintió aturdida después de estar despierta toda la noche estudiando para los exámenes.
His addle-brained approach to problem-solving frustrated everyone in the team.
While "addle-brained" itself is not a core part of many idiomatic expressions, its meaning can be connected to several phrases that describe confusion or foolishness. Below are example sentences using related expressions:
Translation: Su idea parecía que le faltaban algunas piezas, considerando lo impráctica que era.
"Not the sharpest tool in the shed."
Translation: No es el más brillante cuando se trata de matemáticas.
"One sandwich short of a picnic."
Translation: Esa estrategia suena como si le faltara un sándwich para el picnic y definitivamente necesita más reflexión.
"A few cards short of a full deck."
The word "addle-brained" traces its roots to the late Middle English word "addle," which means to mix up or confuse, derived from the Old English "æthelan," meaning to spoil. The "brained" part comes from "brain," referring to the organ associated with thought and cognition. Thus, "addle-brained" literally conveys the idea of having a confused or muddled mind.