noun

Einstein

YN-styn

noun

A very intelligent or brilliant person, used as an admiring or sarcastic comparison to Albert Einstein.

"She solved the puzzle in seconds — a real Einstein."

""Nice going, Einstein," he muttered after his friend locked the keys in the car."

How to Use Einstein

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone extremely smart — or, said sarcastically, someone who just did something dumb.

Common mistake

Sarcastic use ("way to go, Einstein") is common in everyday speech and means the opposite of genius — context tells you which meaning is meant.

When to use it

Informal; capitalized because it comes directly from the proper name.

Word Forms

Einsteins plural, Einsteins plural, einsteins plural, einsteins plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She solved the puzzle in seconds — a real _____.

Etymology

From the name of physicist Albert Einstein, whose fame for genius turned his surname into a byword for cleverness — often used ironically for the opposite.

Rhymes for Einstein

vein rein bein Hein Fein Mein stein Klein herein protein therein wherein

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