full deckism

See also: full-deckism

English

Alternative forms

• full-deckism

Etymology

After such phrases as "not playing with a full deck" and "a few cards short of a deck", +‎ -ism.

Noun

full deckism (plural full deckisms)

1. (linguistics) A word or phrase used to euphemistically refer to another person's being crazy or deranged.
   • 1996, Malcolm L. Kushner, Successful Presentations for Dummies, page 332:

     The next time you need to make this point try using a "full deckism." Full deckisms are euphemisms for saying that people are stupid or illogical — that they're "not playing with a full deck."

   • 2000, Alleen Pace Nilsen, Don Lee Fred Nilsen, Encyclopedia of 20th-century American Humor, page 244:

     A currently popular pattern of insult humor is the "Full Deckism," named from the cliche, "He's not playing with a full deck."