gooney bird

• Terme d'argot désuet désignant une personne maladroite, stupide ou naïve, issu à l'origine du nom de l'albatros (aussi appelé fou ou goéland), connu pour sa maladresse sur terre.

An old-fashioned slang term for a clumsy, foolish, or naive person, originally derived from the name of the albatross (also called a gooney bird), known for its awkward movements on land.

1. Slang for a clumsy or foolish personC1slangamerican

   An informal term used to describe someone who is awkward, silly, or naive.

   personne maladroite ou stupide

   • Don't be such a gooney bird; think before you jump!
   • He acted like a gooney bird at the party, spilling drinks everywhere.
   • She called him a gooney bird for forgetting his keys again.

2. Common name for an albatrossB2informalamerican

   A colloquial name for certain large seabirds, especially the Laysan albatross, known for their clumsy movements on land.

   Albatroz goéland

   • The gooney bird landed awkwardly on the deck of the ship.
   • Tourists often photograph the gooney birds on the island.
   • The naturalist explained how gooney birds glide for hours over the ocean.