thick skull

USAGE SUMMARY

"thick skull" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used as a metaphor for describing someone who is slow to understand or learn, or someone who is stubborn or stubbornly ignorant of something. Example sentence: "Despite my repeated attempts to explain the situation, the new hire just had a thick skull and couldn't wrap his head around the concept."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

I can't penetrate this thick skull".

The Guardian

My thick skull, more like, I'm thinking.

The Guardian

Who could blame him for wanting to drive that exclamation point through Dolan's thick skull?

The New York Times - Sports

With each blow, he tells himself, he helps education penetrate another thick skull.

The New Yorker

Fortunately, the bottle was empty, and Tim has a particularly thick skull.

The New York Times - Travel

3pm: The spectator whose head Simon Wakefield hit with his drive on the fourth must have a very thick skull, because the ball got a massive deflection and landed nowhere near him.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Furthermore, injuries of this kind appear to be absent in the specimens of pachycephalosaurs that don't have thick skull-caps, meaning that rates of damage are obviously still more common in the domed animals, and also that damage seems to correlate with having the dome.

The Guardian

"Hopefully, he's going to get it through our thick skulls what he wants," Scott Stevens, the captain, said.

The New York Times - Sports

Since the crooks who made the plug-ins, software and filters can't seem to ge that through their thick skulls, I'll simply block all FireFox users.

The Guardian - Tech

It is time, finally, for pro football and basketball owners and players, to have this peg pounded through their thick skulls, and wallets.

The New York Times - Sports

"In the event, the scene on the hustings turned into a riot, where Oastler and the 10 Hour Men 'rang matins on the thick skulls of the flying oranges'.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thick skull", ensure the context is appropriate. It can be considered offensive, so it's best reserved for informal or humorous situations where the intent is not malicious.

Common error

Avoid using "thick skull" in professional or academic writing. Opt for more neutral phrases like "difficult to understand" or "resistant to new ideas" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thick skull" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It serves as a metaphor, often used to describe a person's perceived inability to understand or learn something easily, as Ludwig AI confirms. It can also denote stubbornness or resistance to new ideas.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

24%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thick skull" is a common noun phrase functioning as a metaphor for someone perceived as slow to understand or stubbornly resistant to learning. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is grammatically correct but can be considered offensive, making it more suitable for informal contexts. Its presence is most frequent in news and media, with considerable usage in science and encyclopedic sources. While authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times use the phrase, writers should exercise caution, opting for more neutral language in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thick-headed

A close synonym, using a hyphenated adjective to describe someone stubborn and slow to understand.

slow on the uptake

Emphasizes the time it takes for someone to understand something.

dense head

Replaces "skull" with "head" to directly imply a lack of understanding.

bonehead

A more informal, single-word synonym implying foolishness or stupidity.

cannot get it through one's head

Expresses the difficulty of conveying information to someone.

wooden head

Uses "wooden" to suggest a lack of flexibility or responsiveness in understanding.

blockhead

A direct and somewhat derogatory term for someone considered unintelligent.

obtuse mind

Focuses on the mind's capacity to understand, suggesting a lack of clarity or sharpness.

impervious to reason

Highlights the inability to be persuaded by logical arguments.

dull intellect

Directly describes a lack of intelligence or mental sharpness.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says someone has a "thick skull"?

Saying someone has a "thick skull" means they are perceived as slow to understand, stubborn, or resistant to learning new things. It's a figurative way of describing someone's perceived lack of intelligence or open-mindedness.

Is it appropriate to call someone a "thick skull"?

Calling someone a "thick skull" can be offensive, as it implies they are unintelligent or stubborn. Consider the context and your relationship with the person before using the phrase. In formal settings, it's best to use more neutral language.

What are some less offensive ways to say someone has a "thick skull"?

Instead of saying someone has a "thick skull", you can use phrases like "slow on the uptake", "difficult to understand", or "resistant to new ideas" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "thick skull" in a sentence?

You can use "thick skull" in a sentence like: "I tried explaining the concept to him, but it was like talking to a brick wall; he just couldn't get it through his "thick skull"."