different between clumsy vs butterfingers

English

Etymology

Possibly from an alteration of clumsed (“benumbed”) or from clumse (“a stupid fellow; lout”) +? -y. More at clumse.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?kl?mzi/

Adjective

clumsy (comparative clumsier, superlative clumsiest)

1. Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous.

   He's very clumsy. I wouldn't trust him with carrying the dishes.

2. Not elegant or well-planned, lacking tact or subtlety.

   It is a clumsy solution, but it might work for now.

   What a clumsy joke...

3. Awkward or inefficient in use or construction, difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape.

Translations

Noun

clumsy (plural clumsies)

1. (informal, fairly rare) A clumsy person.
   • 1934, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins

     “Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water. “That was for your father’s shaving.”

Synonyms

• butterfingers
• galoot
• klutz

Translations

See also

• clumsies

Anagrams

• cumyls, muscly

English

Etymology

From butter +? fingers, suggesting that someone is clumsy and drops things as if their hands are coated in slippery butter.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b?t??f????z/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?b?t??f????z/, [-??-]
• Hyphenation: but?ter?fing?ers

Noun

butterfingers (plural butterfingers)

1. (idiomatic, informal) Someone who tends to drop things; (more generally) someone who is clumsy or uncoordinated; a klutz.

Alternative forms

• butter fingers

Derived terms

• butterfingered

Translations