dumb like a fox
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Very stupid or foolish.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Sly and cunning, while deliberately giving the misleading impression of being stupid or foolish.
Register: informal
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dumb like a fox” mean?
Very stupid or foolish.
Is “dumb like a fox” formal or informal?
dumb like a fox is generally informal.