not be all there
be not all there
1. To not be mentally sound. A: "Look at that guy talking to himself on the corner." B: "I reckon he's not all there." My grandfather hasn't been all there for a number of years, which has really had a negative impact on how the kids interact with him.
2. To not be very bright or intelligent; to be dimwitted. Jim's a nice guy, but with some of the foolish things he does, I think he's not all there. My aunt likes to act like she's not all there sometimes, but she's actually incredibly sharp.
See also: all, not, there
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
not be all there
INFORMALIf someone is not all there, they are not very intelligent, or are slightly crazy. I tried to talk to her but she wasn't really all there.
See also: all, not, there
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- not all there
- not for a second
- not for a minute
- not for a moment
- aint
- ain't
- not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
- not for a instant
- by no means
- not by any means