Duffer

/ˈdʌfər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who is incompetent or unable to do something well.

Despite his enthusiasm, John turned out to be a bit of a duffer when it came to playing tennis.

A clumsy or stupid person.

She called him a duffer for accidentally spilling coffee all over his shirt.

A person who is inexperienced or unskilled in a particular field or activity.

The new recruit was a duffer in the kitchen, unable to boil an egg properly.

Origin unknown, possibly from the 19th-century British slang.

duffer's luck

Refers to being lucky despite being incompetent.

incompetent

Lacking the skills or abilities to perform effectively.

inept

Having or showing no skill; clumsy.

An unskilled or clumsy person.

That guy's such a duffer at fixing things, he just made it worse.

A person who generally lacks common sense.

She's a bit of a duffer when it comes to handling finances.