be someone who is booksmart but a klutz in every other way.

Factual Questions
1

Hi

I’, looking for a word to describe someone who is book smart but a klutz in every other way. Perhaps there’s a Yiddish word for it.

I look forward to your feedback.
davidmich

2

Nerd?

3

Nerd, geek, Poindexter, Milhouse

4

[Milhouse]
I’m not a nerd, Bart. Nerds are smart.
[/Milhouse]

From “I am Curious (Yellow)”.

I would also disagree with geek. Geeks are generally viewed as having positive qualities. I.e., they actually can get things done. Nerds talk about getting things done. And talk and talk …

5

Dear davidmich,

Enclosed within this post you will find my feedback. I hope it does not disappoint.

A person who is booksmart, that is, intelligent and well versed in matters purely academic are simply referred to as booksmart. Streetsmart is the opposite, so a person fitting your discription would be known as, “booksmart, not streetsmart.”

Sincerely,

drewtwo99

6

If I may, you seem to be mixing parameters. Booksmart/streetsmart is one dimension. Klutz (clumsy)/antonym of klutz (the word is not coming to me) is another. One could be a streetsmart klutz. One could be a booksmart antonym of klutz. Now, I think the overlap between streetsmart and antonym of klutz is probably larger than the overlap between booksmart and antonym of klutz, but they are still independent of one another. FWIW.

7

And the term for someone who can quote Simpsons literally chapter and verse is…?

8

How about ‘idiot savant’

http://wordsmith.org/words/idiot_savant.html

9

How are you defining the word “klutz”? I’ve only ever heard it used to mean clumsy, and I don’t know why you’d tie that to intelligence.

10

Educated Idiot?

11

My friend Rick.

12

scholar

13

Something like “Yeshiva smart”?

14

Uncanny valley girl

15

klutzobrainiac

16

I wonder if “Putz” is what he really meant?

17

Egghead

18

Potential member of SDMB?

19

luft air (“luftmensch” - an Impractical fellow - a dreamer)

20

I think “Poindexter” covers it, nicely.