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Is there a word for "clever fool?"

English Language & Usage Asked by Edwin Ross on March 15, 2021

What do you call a person who despite being very clever in one field, e.g. math or physics, behaves very unwisely or impractical in real life?
I know some people who are very well educated and can solve difficult scientific problems, but they seem to belong to some different society. They can easily be cheated by any fraud, they are often absentminded so they lose their belonging all the time etc.
Do you have a word for this kind of people?

14 Answers

I've heard people like that described as book smart. It is sometimes used as the opposite of street-smart.

Being able to succeed scholastically, and not necessarily in the real world.

Urban Dictionary

Correct answer by Callithumpian on March 15, 2021

The word hubris comes to mind; you wouldn't apply it to an individual but to his/her actions. Also, it has a connotation of arrogance rather than inadvertent behaviour; I am not sure this is what you're after.

Answered by CesarGon on March 15, 2021

An idiot savant, perhaps?

idiot sa·vant (n.)
1. a person affected with a mental disability (as autism or mental retardation) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (as mathematics or music)
2. a person who is highly knowledgeable about one subject but knows little about anything else

Answered by Uticensis on March 15, 2021

I would describe that type of person as having a 'lack of common sense' but I can't think of a single word to express the concept.

Answered by nicholas ainsworth on March 15, 2021

Autistic could be a word I would use in such cases, but I would mean it figuratively.

Answered by kiamlaluno on March 15, 2021

Perhaps an intellectual would cover it, although this word more usually means experts in politics or economics who are likewise clueless about everyday reality.

Answered by Brian Hooper on March 15, 2021

You might be looking for sophomore, which (according to some sources) can be traced to the Greek words sophos, meaning "wise", and moros, meaning "fool".

Answered by Joel Neely on March 15, 2021

Such people could be said to live in an Ivory Tower

ivory tower (plural ivory towers) (idiomatic)

A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.

Such a proposal looks fine from an ivory tower, but it could never work in real life.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ivory_tower

Answered by Robb on March 15, 2021

What do you call a person who despite being very clever in one field, e.g. math or physics, behaves very unwisely or impractical in real life?

Normal.

How many people fall for 'buy-one-get-one-free' offers (why isn't the price simply reduced) or 'super-size' deals?

I remember an old saying 'penny-wise, pound-foolish'

With tongue, embedded in cheek,

Chris

Answered by Chris McCauley on March 15, 2021

Unworldly or otherworldly are the best single words I can come up with. There's no strong implication of expertise in a narrow field as there would be with idiot savant though.

Answered by user1579 on March 15, 2021

Egghead has a touch of both the positive and negative connotations you’re looking for. Maybe not enough. Dreamer, daydreamer and visionary are along the same lines.

The absent-minded professor stereotype you describe is more or less what people conjure up when you say philosopher—though of course that word denotes a particular job or field of study.

Such a person is usually eccentric too.

Answered by Jason Orendorff on March 15, 2021

Oh, you're talking about Professor Calculus.

Answered by user6465 on March 15, 2021

Literally, there's sophomore - σοφός (sophos, “wise”) + μωρός (mōros, “fool”).

Answered by Malvolio on March 15, 2021

Morosoph (n.) : A Learned fool.

Definition from Merriam Webster.

Answered by Noaman Ali on March 15, 2021

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