без царя в голове

• БЕЗ ЦАРЯ В ГОЛОВЕ coll

[PrepP; Invar; usu. subj-compl with быть (subj. human), pres or past, or nonagreeing postmodif; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ one is very dull-witted, foolish:

- X без царя в голове{{}}≈ X has no brains;

- X has nothing upstairs;

- X doesn't have a brain in his head;

|| [when used as nonagreeing postmodif] a person <a man, a woman> with nothing upstairs.

     ♦ "Ты, Митек, известно, без царя в голове, молотишь, что ни попадя..." (Максимов 2а). "Mitya, we know you haven't any brains and you don't often hit the nail on the head. " (2a).

     ♦ Хлестаков, молодой человек лет 23-х, тоненький, худенький; несколько приглуповат и, как говорят, без царя в голове (Гоголь 4). Khlestakov, a young man, about twenty-three, slim, slender; a bit silly, and, as they say, with nothing upstairs (4a).