not the sharpest duck in the china cabinet Is an odd variant of “not the sharpest knife in the drawer” and “like a bull in a china shop”
It is said that the term originates from the Great Plains/Lower Delta in the Midwest US. Most say the saying came from a notably dumb duck hunter. He didn’t understand the two aforementioned terms “not the sharpest knife in the drawer” and “like a bull in a china shop” but instead of learning what they meant he created the abomination of a saying “not the sharpest duck in the china cabinet” When the poor bastard said it the first time it caught everyone off guard. Everyone in the duck blind stopped what they were doing and begged for further elaboration of the slang term. He refused to elaborate. Without a concrete answer speculation ran wild but no could adequately explain it.
From that point onward the term disseminated across the country. Most people use it ironically for a replacement term. It has caused great confusion and hilarity over the decades
It is said that the term originates from the Great Plains/Lower Delta in the Midwest US. Most say the saying came from a notably dumb duck hunter. He didn’t understand the two aforementioned terms “not the sharpest knife in the drawer” and “like a bull in a china shop” but instead of learning what they meant he created the abomination of a saying “not the sharpest duck in the china cabinet” When the poor bastard said it the first time it caught everyone off guard. Everyone in the duck blind stopped what they were doing and begged for further elaboration of the slang term. He refused to elaborate. Without a concrete answer speculation ran wild but no could adequately explain it.
From that point onward the term disseminated across the country. Most people use it ironically for a replacement term. It has caused great confusion and hilarity over the decades
Person 1: did you see that duck dive right into the decoy? That was crazy, it took that damn thing out!
Person 2: yeah that sumbitch is not the sharpest duck in the china cabinet
Person 3: hol up. What does that mean?
Person 2: *refuses to elaborate*
Person 2: yeah that sumbitch is not the sharpest duck in the china cabinet
Person 3: hol up. What does that mean?
Person 2: *refuses to elaborate*
by MFG.24 June 13, 2025