Not The Full Quid

English

Etymology

Compare Australian and British informal usage of quid (“a pound sterling; by extension, a complete amount”). The phrase follows a pattern seen in expressions such as not the full shilling, where a person is likened to a complete sum, with the negative implying something lacking.

Pronunciation

IPA: /nɒt ðə fʊl kwɪd/

Phrase

not the full quid

(chiefly Australia, informal) A person of below average intelligence, i.e. below the 50th percentile of humans' average IQ.
- He’s a nice enough bloke, but he’s not the full quid.
- You can’t trust his judgment; he’s not the full quid.

Video Walkthrough

Aussie slang explanation of not the full quid

Usage notes

Common in Australian English; similar in sense to British expressions like “not playing with a full deck” or “a few sandwiches short of a picnic.”
Typically used informally and may be considered mildly derogatory depending on context.