cockeyed

Everyday

1. (informal) Crooked, not straight or level, like a cockeyed picture. tree →
2. (informal) Silly or not sensible, like a cockeyed plan. tree →
3. (old-fashioned, can be unkind) Having eyes that look in different directions; cross-eyed. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk and stories it describes crooked hats and pictures or foolish ideas. Phrases: "a cockeyed idea", "knocked cockeyed".

Examples

• The picture on the wall is cockeyed. tree →
• His hat sat cockeyed on his head. tree →
• That's a cockeyed idea; it'll never work. tree →
• The fence leans at a cockeyed angle. tree →
• The cartoon cat looked cockeyed after the bump. tree →

Note

Informal. Using it about someone's eyes can be hurtful; say "has a squint" or "has a lazy eye" instead. Sometimes spelled "cock-eyed".