cuckoo
Translation
cuckoo, crazy person
Examples
We heard a cuckoo in the woods.
We heard a cuckoo in the woods.
He's a bit of a cuckoo.
He's a bit of a cuckoo.
Grammar Patterns
((noun)) a type of bird. We heard a cuckoo in the woods.
((noun)) (informal) a foolish or crazy person. He's a bit of a cuckoo.
Similar Words
Synonyms: (bird) nightingale, swallow; (person, informal) eccentric, nut, loon
Etymology
Onomatopoeic, from the bird's two-note call, which sounds like 'coo-coo'.
Memory Tips
Picture a 'cuckoo clock'. The bird pops out and makes its sound, which can also connect to the idea of being a bit crazy or 'cuckoo'.