different between clumsy vs schlubby

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 schlub +? -y; schlub is derived from Yiddish ??????? (zhlob), perhaps from Polish ??ób (“manger, trough; furrow, large groove in the soil”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??l?bi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??l?bi/, /??l?-/
• Rhymes: -?bi
• Hyphenation: schlub?by

Adjective

schlubby (comparative schlubbier or more schlubby, superlative schlubbiest or most schlubby)

1. (chiefly US, informal) Clumsy, oafish, or socially awkward; unattractive or unkempt.

Alternative forms

• shlubby
• zhlubby (rare)

Related terms

• schlub

Translations

References

Further reading

• William Safire (5 October 2003) , “The Way We Live Now”, in The New York Times Magazine?^[4], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, ISSN 0028-7822, OCLC 671821214, archived from the original on 3 February 2018