cuckoo
B2Informal (as an insult/adjective), Neutral-Biological (as a noun)
Definition
Meaning
A grey or brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests.
Used to describe someone as crazy or foolish; informally refers to the call of the cuckoo bird or the concept of being displaced.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The bird name is neutral. The adjectival use meaning 'crazy' is informal and often mildly derogatory. The verb 'to cuckoo' is rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The adjectival meaning 'crazy' is more common in British English. Americans are more likely to use 'crazy' or 'nuts'. The onomatopoeic 'cuckoo' for the bird's call is identical.
Connotations
In both, the bird symbolizes spring and is associated with clocks. As an insult, it implies silliness more than danger.
Frequency
As a noun for the bird, frequency is low. As an informal adjective, it's low in AmE, low-mid in BrE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The cuckoo [VERB: calls, sings, lays].He is [ADJ: completely, totally, a bit] cuckoo.To cuckoo [someone] (very rare).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cuckoo in the nest (an unwelcome intruder)”
- “cloud-cuckoo-land (unrealistic fantasy)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new manager was seen as a cuckoo in the nest, disrupting the established team.'
Academic
'The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) exhibits obligate brood parasitism.'
Everyday
'That idea sounds completely cuckoo to me.' / 'I heard a cuckoo this morning.'
Technical
In computing, a 'cuckoo hashing' algorithm is named after the bird's nesting behaviour.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bird began to cuckoo as the sun rose.
American English
- He claimed he could cuckoo like the real thing.
adverb
British English
- He stared cuckoo-ly at the painting. (extremely rare/nonstandard)
American English
- (Adverbial use is virtually non-existent in standard English.)
adjective
British English
- His plan to sail across the Atlantic in a bathtub is utterly cuckoo.
American English
- She gave me a cuckoo look and walked away.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a bird. It was a cuckoo.
- The sound of a cuckoo means that spring is here.
- Some people think he's a bit cuckoo for quitting his stable job.
- The invasive policy acted as a cuckoo in the nest, undermining the organisation's core values.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Cuckoo' sounds like its own call: 'coo-coo'. A person who only says 'coo-coo' might be considered crazy.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSANITY IS A BROKEN CLOCK (from cuckoo clocks going off at wrong times).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кукуруза' (corn/maize).
- The bird is 'кукушка'. The 'crazy' meaning exists but is a direct loan, so use cautiously.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is a cuckoo.' (when meaning 'He is crazy' – use 'He is cuckoo').
- Misspelling: 'cuckou', 'kuckoo'.
Practice
Quiz
In British informal English, if you describe someone as 'cuckoo', you mean they are:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As an adjective meaning 'crazy', it is informal and can be mildly insulting, but it is less harsh than 'insane' or 'psycho'. Context matters.
It's an idiom for an unwelcome intruder in a group or situation, especially one who threatens to take over or displace others, named after the cuckoo chick pushing other eggs out.
Yes, but it's rare and poetic. It means 'to make the call of a cuckoo bird'.
Because it has a mechanical bird that pops out on the hour and makes a 'cuckoo' sound, mimicking the bird's call.