silly
Translation
silly, foolish, daft
Examples
That was a silly mistake to make.
That was a silly mistake to make.
Don't be silly, of course I can help.
Don't be silly, of course I can help.
He made a silly face to make the baby laugh.
He made a silly face to make the baby laugh.
Grammar Patterns
((adjective)) having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment. It was a silly thing to say.
((to be)) silly to behave in a foolish or playful way. Stop being silly and listen to me.
Similar Words
Synonyms: foolish, goofy, absurd; Antonyms: serious, sensible, wise
Etymology
From Middle English 'sely' meaning 'happy, blessed', which evolved to 'innocent' and then 'foolish'.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone wearing a 'silly' hat with a propeller on top. It's often used in a light-hearted, not truly insulting, way.