One corner short of a pentagon What does it mean?

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In summary, the phrase "one corner short of a pentagon" means that the person is missing something important. It can be their mentality, their personality, or even something as simple as having one less brick in their pile.
  • #1
mishrashubham
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"One corner short of a pentagon"...What does it mean?

Ok I read this phrase somewhere and I have no idea what it means. Apparently it's a North American thing and is something related to someone's personality or stuff like that.

Can anyone tell me what it is supposed to mean?
Thanks
 
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  • #2


There is something missing in that person's mentality.
 
  • #3


The person being described is a square :) You may not be old enough to get that joke...

I haven't heard that one. There are a lot of
Code:
He is [fill in the blank] short of [fill in the blank] 
 ex: He is one card short of a full deck
sayings. They all are references to someone's lack of intelligence.

I guess this one is a more geometric approach.
 
  • #4


I have to admit I've never seen that phrase before, but a Google search turns up a lot of hits for it. Live and learn!

I do remember seeing another phrase with the same pattern "one ______ short of a ______", but I can't remember what it is! I guess I must be starting to fit that description. :uhh:

[added] Aha, now I remember it: "one brick short of a full load." Jim's version also rings a bell in the back of my head.
 
  • #5


Darn - Jimmy already posted. I expected to really roll with this whole thread...
 
  • #6


Let's make up one for physicists:

"One electron short of a full shell." :biggrin:
 
  • #7


jtbell said:
Let's make up one for physicists:

"One electron short of a full shell." :biggrin:
A less than noble personality.
 
  • #8


Sharp as a marble.
 
  • #9


jim mcnamara said:
The person being described is a square :) You may not be old enough to get that joke...

I haven't heard that one. There are a lot of
Code:
He is [fill in the blank] short of [fill in the blank] 
 ex: He is one card short of a full deck
sayings. They all are references to someone's lack of intelligence.

I guess this one is a more geometric approach.

Ah I see... I guess it makes sense.

Jimmy Snyder said:
There is something missing in that person's mentality.

Knowing you though, I was at first not sure whether to take this as the real thing or yet another joke.
 
  • #10


Jimmy Snyder said:
There is something missing in that person's mentality.
or someone missing
 
  • #11


jtbell said:
"One electron short of a full shell." :biggrin:

Astronuc said:
A less than noble personality.

Yes, probably rather greedy.
 
  • #12


jtbell said:
Yes, probably rather greedy.
as halides tend to be with respect to electrons - fluoride being the worst offender.
 
  • #13


"You're not the sharpest knife in the drawer!"
 
  • #14


What about "One corner short of a circle"?
 
  • #15


micromass said:
What about "One corner short of a circle"?

I wish I could have that many corners...:rolleyes:
 
  • #16


So smart he's stupid.
 
  • #17


His elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor.

One taco short of a combination plate.

Dumber than a bag of hammers.

All things my son has said about his boss.
 
  • #18


A sandwich short of a picnic.

Not the brightest bulb in the lamp.

Doesn't have both oars in the water.

He has a mind like an ink blotter, he soaks it all up, but gets it all backwards.
 
  • #19


One banana short of a bunch.

Behind the door when they gave out the brains.

Thick as two short planks.

Given that the original is supposed to be an American saying, is there extra resonance in "a pentagon" versus "the Pentagon"? Quotes about military intelligence being an oxymoron abound.
 
  • #20


A few fries short of a happy meal.
 
  • #21


These are even funnier when you mix them:

"Not the sharpest bulb in the box."
 
  • #22


Ben Niehoff said:
These are even funnier when you mix them:

Thick as a Happy Meal.
Not the sharpest knife in the brains.
Doesn't have two short planks in the water.

I think I'm going the wrong way; these are actually making some sense.
 
  • #23


Some of the previous comments were quite humorous.

But seriously though, it must be said that in the American vernacular, the term "square" is not an insult to intelligence. Instead it means dull, conformist, overly conventional or out of touch with current trends.

(This post is square, for example.)
 
  • #24


Here's one I've heard a lot:

"One sandwich short of a picnic."

Here are a few I made up:

"One branch short of a hyperbola."
"One lambda short of a fundamental frequency."
"One surjective mapping short of a finite integral domain."
 
  • #25


One epsilon away from being negative.

(This is adapted from the shortest mathematical joke: ##\mbox{Let }\varepsilon<0##.)
 
  • #26


One neuron short of a whole brain! Ah hahahahahaha.

...

What?
 
  • #27


@Pythagorean - Wait until you are my age. You will fight tooth and nail to keep every neuron... uh what was I saying...?
 
  • #28


I wonder if sometimes some neurons don't need clearing anyway, though.
 
  • #29


I have eight left, don't want any clearing.
 
  • #30


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNBWf54RvsI

This song has oodles of them.
 
  • #31


He's very intelligent, but not too bright. (said in reference to a newly-minted ChE)
 
  • #32


One diploma short of a BS
 

What does "One corner short of a pentagon" mean?

"One corner short of a pentagon" is a phrase that is often used to describe someone who is almost, but not quite, reaching their full potential. It can also refer to someone who is missing a crucial piece of information or understanding.

Where does the phrase "One corner short of a pentagon" come from?

The phrase is believed to have originated from the mathematical concept of a pentagon, which is a five-sided shape. If one corner is missing, the shape is incomplete and therefore not a true pentagon. This concept is often used metaphorically to describe a person's mental or emotional state.

What is the significance of a pentagon in this phrase?

A pentagon is a symbol of completeness and perfection, with its five equal sides and angles. Therefore, being "one corner short" of a pentagon signifies a lack of completeness or perfection.

Is "One corner short of a pentagon" a derogatory term?

No, the phrase is not inherently derogatory. It is often used in a humorous or lighthearted manner to gently poke fun at someone who may be a bit scattered or forgetful.

Can "One corner short of a pentagon" be used in other contexts?

Yes, the phrase can be used in various contexts to describe something that is almost complete or perfect, but missing a crucial element. It can also be used to describe a person who is almost achieving their goal, but not quite there yet.

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