Meaning & use
what a dope
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformaldisapproving
An exclamation saying that someone has just done something very foolish.
Grammar: Used on its own as a reaction, often after someone makes a silly mistake.
Patterns
- What a dope!
You locked the keys inside the car again? What a dope!
He forgot her birthday twice. What a dope.
What a dope I am — I booked the flight for the wrong day.
phrasefixed phraseinformalhumorous
An exclamation expressing amused surprise at how silly a person or situation is.
Grammar: Softer and more playful than a direct insult; often said with a smile.
Patterns
- What a dope!
He wore his shirt inside out all day — what a dope!
What a dope, tripping over his own feet in front of everyone.
Common combinations
- call someone a dope
- The kids called him a dope for believing the story.
- feel like a dope
- I felt like a dope when I realized my mistake.
- a real dope
- Only a real dope would lend him money again.
Synonyms and how they differ
- what a fool
- Stronger and more serious; it sounds more like an insult and less playful.
- what an idiot
- Much harsher and often offensive, so avoid it in most situations.
- what a klutz
- Focuses on clumsiness rather than general foolishness.
Word family
- dopey adjective
- Silly or slow to understand, or sleepy from medicine.
Commonly confused: what a dope or dope?
what a dope vs dope
As a noun 'dope' can also mean an illegal drug, so 'what a dope' can be misread outside context.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'what a dope' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'What a dope' works as a standalone exclamation or with a subject and verb after it, as in 'What a dope you are.' The other options use prepositions ('of', 'for', 'to') that do not fit this fixed phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “what a dope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.