picnic

a few sandwiches short of a picnic

A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. It can appear in many different forms and variations (for example: a few bricks shy of a load, a few cards shy of a full deck, etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets. I think he may be a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
See also: few, of, picnic, sandwich, short

a sandwich shy of a picnic

A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., several bricks short of a load," "one card shy of a full deck," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be a sandwich shy of a picnic. The new manager is nice enough, but he's a sandwich shy of a picnic, if you ask me.
See also: of, picnic, sandwich, shy

be no picnic

To be not an easy task; to be unenjoyable or challenging. I love kids, but watching 20 of them at once is no picnic, believe me! Spending a beautiful Saturday afternoon cleaning out the garage is no picnic.
See also: no, picnic

be one sandwich short of a picnic

To be not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. It can appear in many different forms and variations (for example: a few bricks shy of a load, a few cards shy of a full deck, etc.) He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets. I think he may be one sandwich short of a picnic.
See also: of, one, picnic, sandwich, short

it's no picnic

It is not an easy task; it is unenjoyable or challenging. I love kids, but watching 20 of them at once? It's no picnic, believe me! It's no picnic spending a beautiful Saturday afternoon cleaning out the garage.
See also: no, picnic

make (something) seem like a picnic

To be so difficult, complicated, or harmful as to make something else that is normally very difficult or negative seem easy, simple, or pleasant by comparison. If we don't act now, the financial crisis waiting for us will make the last recession seem like a picnic.
See also: like, make, picnic, seem

no picnic

Not an easy task; unenjoyable or challenging. I love kids, but watching 20 of them at once is no picnic, believe me! Spending a beautiful Saturday afternoon cleaning out the garage is no picnic.
See also: no, picnic

one sandwich short of a picnic

A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. It can appear in many different forms and variations (for example: one card short of a full deck, one brick shy of a full load, etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be one sandwich short of a picnic. The new manager is nice enough, but he's one sandwich short of a picnic, if you ask me.
See also: of, one, picnic, sandwich, short

one sandwich shy of a picnic

A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., several bricks short of a load," "one card shy of a full deck," etc.). He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets—I think he may be one sandwich shy of a picnic. The new manager is nice enough, but he's one sandwich shy of a picnic, if you ask me.
See also: of, one, picnic, sandwich, shy

PICNIC

An initialism of "problem in chair, not in computer," used humorously to explain that a computer user's problem is not the machine but rather that they are using the machine incorrectly. A: "I've already checked those registry files! Nothing is working!" B: "Hmm. Sounds like PICNIC to me."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

It's no picnic!

Inf. There is nothing easy or pleasant about it. I was on welfare for a year, and it's no picnic.
See also: no

one sandwich short of a picnic

Inf. not very smart; lacking intelligence. (Jocular.) Poor Bob just isn't too bright. He's one sandwich short of a picnic. She's not stupid. Just one sandwich short of a picnic.
See also: of, one, picnic, sandwich, short
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

no picnic

Difficult, no fun, as in Recovering from abdominal surgery is no picnic. This expression, alluding to a picnic as a pleasant occasion, was first recorded in 1888.
See also: no, picnic
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

be no picnic

INFORMAL
If an experience, job, or activity is no picnic, it is difficult or unpleasant. `Poor little things,' she said of the children. `It's no picnic for them being taken away from their homes.' Being unemployed is no picnic.
See also: no, picnic

one sandwich short of a picnic

INFORMAL
If you say someone is one sandwich short of a picnic, you mean they are stupid or crazy. His daughter confirmed that her father was definitely one sandwich short of a picnic. Note: This expression is very variable. People often replace sandwich and picnic with other nouns, and one with a few. The guy was obviously several cards short of a full deck. Miss Martin is clearly one tent peg short of a full set. Note: These expressions are used humorously.
See also: of, one, picnic, sandwich, short
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be no picnic

be difficult or unpleasant. informal
2001 Rant While Cheung looks elegant…in the 25 different versions of the cheongsam dress she wears in the film, moving in the garments was no picnic.
See also: no, picnic

a sandwich (or two sandwiches) short of a picnic

(of a person) stupid or crazy. informal
See also: of, picnic, sandwich, short
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be no ˈpicnic

(informal) be difficult or unpleasant: Living with someone like her is no picnic, believe me.
See also: no, picnic
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

picnic

n. a good time; an easy time. Nothing to it. A real picnic.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

no picnic

No easy task; not an enjoyable experience. This term began to be used frequently in the late nineteenth century. Rudyard Kipling used it several times, as in Wee WillieWinkie (1888): “T’ain’t no bloomin’ picnic in those parts, I can tell you.”
See also: no, picnic
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a few bricks short of a (full) load
  • a few bricks shy/short of a load
  • a few sandwiches short of a picnic
  • a few, two, etc. bricks short of a load
  • a sandwich short of a picnic
  • bricks shy of a load
  • one brick shy of a (full) load
  • one brick shy of a load
  • one sandwich short of a picnic
  • sandwich
References in periodicals archive
Find a Terra Lightfoot interview & other coverage of the Harvest Picnic at ajmag.ca/picnic.
Music for a Greenbelt
It's fantastic if you are on a budget as picnics in our house are either leftovers from the night before or a packed lunch with a treat or two (a piece of cake or a chocolate bar).
How a great day out be a financial picnic
"Today's senior picnic was outstanding; the sheriff and his great team of volunteers treated us to a wonderful day of delicious food, fun, raffles and bingo.
Sheriff's Senior Picnic brings out record crowd
Potential licensees in the picnic accessories industry are currently being targeted as candidates to eventually commercialize the Lea Specialty Picnic Table Covers on a worldwide basis.
Innovation Direct[TM] to Lead the Way in Marketing of Lea Specialty Picnic Table Covers Invention
Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford's riverside spaces, such as Bancroft Gardens by the Avon, offer a great place for a picnic as the swans glide by.
Perfect spot for a picnic; With the Bank Holiday weekend approaching, DAVID BENTLEY looks at some of the region's best spots for a picnic
PERFECT PICNIC RECIPES for crostini, salads, and more: sunset.com/picnic
The summer of the picnic club: for a warm-weather twist on a dinner party, these Portland friends take it outside. Here's their step-by-step to eating in the park
Dirt and moisture repellent and easy to carry, it is made with parachute material on its base, which weighs very little, making it ideal to transport all your picnic gear.
Perfect picnic; SIX MUST-HAVES FOR DINING ALFRESCO
The hotel is offering three picnic basket options, and services of an Andaz Picnic Host to arrange a perfect picnic.
-Andaz 5th Avenue Announces Picnic Service for Guests
Portable toilets, swimming hole, free picnic area, reservation-only shelters.
Lane County is a playground for park-lovers
The airline said that the "Anytime Picnic Pack" features food with natural and organic ingredients including salami, cheese, two types of crackers, dried apricots, sunflower seed spread, jam, a dark chocolate sandwich cookie and Emergen-C energy drink mix.
Alaska Airlines announces new Picnic Packs
For example, Casa Italia, 2080 Constitution Blvd., has everything you need for a great picnic. You'll find an assortment of fine breads, imported cold cuts and olives, cheeses that threaten to outshine everything else on the menu and a selection of affordable wines that goes on for aisles.
Fat city: dining off the beaten track with Bob Ardren
He woke up one day and thought, "A picnic!", and the rest is history.
Downhome fun out west
Enthusiasts wax lyrical about bulging hampers full of treats and memorable occasions from romantic picnics for two, to a taste of the good life, a posh picnic complete with champers and strawbs, or a snack in the park with the kids.
Weekend: Pack it and unwrap it; We don't always do al fresco dining as well as we could. But Gabrielle Fagan explains why we should all picnic once in a while
Nothing is more romantic than a picnic for two, rendering upscale picnic products the perfect wedding gift, Use this year-round romantic occasion to merchandise picnic backpacks and accessories created with couples in mind.
Picnic products. (Welcome to: kitchen tools & accessories)
Between 400 and 500 people, mostly Elders, attended what was at least the tenth and possibly the fifteenth annual Elders Picnic, which was hosted this year by the Dokis First Nation on the shores of the French River July 25.
Elders' picnic attracts hundreds