butterfingered

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands; ; ; ; - Mary H. Vorse

Etymology

From butter + fingered (“having fingers (of the specified kind)”), an allusion to people tending to drop things because their hands are so slippery that they seem to be covered in butter.

Synonyms

bumbling, bungling, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed

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