ABSENT-MINDED
ADJECTIVES
► ABSTRACTED absent-minded, inattentive, faraway → 1586
► ASLEEP AT THE BAG absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► ASLEEP AT THE BASE absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH irresponsible, absent-minded → 1990 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► ASLEEP ON THE JOB absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLAH absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► BLANK absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD ABOVE THE EARS absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD BETWEEN THE EARS absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD FROM THE HOOFS UP absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD FROM THE NECK UP absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD-HEADED absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD TO THE WORLD absent-minded, inattentive, day-dreaming; unconscious of one’s surroundings → 20C sl., orig. US
► DISTRAIT absent–minded; having the attention distracted from what is present → 1748
► GONE TO SLEEP ON THE BAG absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► GONE TO SLEEP ON THE BASE absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► GONE TO SLEEP ON THE JOB absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► HALF THERE absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► LUNCHY absent-minded, dull, stupid → 1960 US students’ sl.
► MOONEY ► MOONY absent-minded; dreamy → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► MOON-RAKING absent-minded → 1869 Eng. dial.
► NO ONE AT HOME absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► NOT ALL THERE absent-minded, inattentive → 1864 sl.
► NOT KEEPING ONE’S EYE ON THE BALL absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► NOT ON THE JOB absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► NOT THERE absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► OUT OF TOWN absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► PEBBLE-BEACHED absent-minded, dazed → 1934 sl.
► PREOCCUPIED absent-minded, mentally distracted, engrossed in thought → 1801
► QUIXOTIC absent-minded through being excessively idealistic or romantic → 1777
► WITH A VACANT ATTIC absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► WITH A VACANT HOUSE absent-minded, inattentive → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
► YONDERLY absent-minded, vague → 1828 Eng. dial.
NOUNS
► ABSENTNESS absent-mindedness; distractedness → 1790
► DUMP absence of mind; a fit of abstraction or musing; a reverie; a dazed or puzzled state → 1523
► DWAAL an absent-minded, dreamy, or dazed state → 1957 S. Afr.
► WOOL-GATHERING absent-mindedness, daydreaming → 1608
NOUNS – PERSON
► DIRK an absent-minded or inattentive person → 1964 US sl.
► DITZ ► DITZO a giddy, absent-minded person → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► DIZ ► DIZZ an absent-minded or inattentive person → 1963 US sl.
► HEAD-IN-AIR an absent-minded or unworldly person; a dreamer → 1932
► MAGOO an absent-minded or inattentive person → 1932 Amer. sl.
► MENTAL MIDGET an absent-minded or inattentive person → 1966 US sl.
► MOONCALF an absent-minded, distracted person, or one given to sentimentality → 1627
► NUTTER BUTTER an eccentric or absent-minded person → 1996 US students’ sl.
PHRASES
► NOBODY HOME applied to any person thought to be absent-minded, stupid, feeble-minded, inattentive, etc. → 1915 Amer. sl.
► NOBODY HOME UPSTAIRS applied to any person thought to be absent-minded, stupid, feeble-minded, inattentive, etc. → 1951 Amer. dial.
► THUMB IN BUM AND MIND IN NEUTRAL absent-minded; vague → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► YOU’D FORGET YOUR HEAD IF IT WASN’T JAMMED ON addressed to an absent-minded person → 1979 UK sl.
► YOU’D FORGET YOUR HEAD IF IT WASN’T SCREWED ON addressed to an absent-minded person → 1979 UK sl.
► YOU’D FORGET YOUR HEAD IF IT WASN’T STUCK ON addressed to an absent-minded person → 1979 UK sl.
► YOU’D FORGET YOUR HEAD IF IT WASN’T TIED ON addressed to an absent-minded person → 1979 UK sl.
VERBS
► MEASE to be absent-minded, to muse → 1877 Eng. dial.
Lexicophilia 