English Explanatory Dictionary

ham-fisted

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Lacking skill in physical movement with the hands; clumsy.
  2. Lacking skill in general; incompetent.

Pronunciation

/ˈhæmˌfɪstɪd/ En-us-ham-fisted.oga

Word forms

ham-fisted more ham-fisted most ham-fisted hamfisted

Etymology

From ham (“thigh and buttock of an animal slaughtered for meat”) + fisted (adjective), probably referring to someone being clumsy as if they have hams at the end of their arms instead of hands.

Synonyms

cack-handed ham-handed heavy-handed mutton-fisted undexterous bungling amateurish backwards bad clumsy ham-fisted inapt incapable incompetent ineffective inept inexpert maladroit miserable noob unable unprofessional unqualified unskillful

Antonyms

dexterous skilful able artful habile accomplished adept adroit apt capable competent consummate conversant crack crafty deft expert facile fluent gain handy maestrolike masterful masterlike masterly masterous professional proficient qualified quick ready skilled skillful thoroughbred tight practiced versed

Related words

ham radio

Derived words

ham-fistedly hamfistedly ham-fistedness hamfistedness

Translations

Bulgarian: несръ́чен Dutch: lomp Dutch: onbeholpen Dutch: onhandig Finnish: kömpelö Finnish: poropeukalo French: maladroit German: plump German: unbeholfen Bavarian German: påtschert Hungarian: ügyetlen Norwegian: klomsete Norwegian: klønete Portuguese: desengonçado Russian: нело́вкий Russian: неуклю́жий Serbo-Croatian: нѐспретан Serbo-Croatian: nèspretan Swedish: valhänt
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