noun
schlemiel
shluh-MEEL/ʃləˈmil/
A clumsy or inept person who often has bad luck.
I feel like a schlemiel every time I drop something.
Etymology
The Yiddish term for a bungler supplies the English portrait of a clumsy or inept person. The source connects the term with the fictional character Peter Schlemihl.
In context
the schlemiel now is this schlamel predestined to be clumsy or is this the guy that i think they say has two left hands and just unable to keep certain composure
More examples
- The poor schlemiel locked his keys inside the car again.
- The movie follows two schlemiels whose simple errands end in disaster.
- He plays a lovable schlemiel who spills soup on his date.
Forms
schlemiel · schlemiels
Similar words
- klutz
- Emphasizes physical clumsiness rather than general ineptitude or bad luck.
- bungler
- Emphasizes doing tasks badly, without necessarily being unlucky.