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Any special words for those who's bad at working with their hands

Any special words for those who's bad at working with their hands

lephoque_
Hi! Is there a special word or phrase for a person who is bad at working with hands or performing practcal jobs (e.g. mending things, cleaning, cooking, etc.). In my language we've got a special phrase which literally means 'one's hands grow from their ass' and a word which is a contamination of 'hands' and 'ass'. It's informal and might be offensive. Is there anything similar in English? Thanks

22 comments

justwhatever22•
You can say someone is “not good with their hands”. Also, if the context is clear, saying someone is “not very practical” works too. 
Cumulus-Crafts•
I don't think there's a word for being low skilled person when it comes to practical work... The closest I would say is maybe "non-technical", or "butterfingers". Butterfingers is only if you find yourself dropping things often though, like your hands are covered in butter because everything just slips out of them.
Whatistweet•
English doesn't have many words for describing a person, most of it would be about describing their hands. As you can see from other comments, it would be things like "butterfingers" (someone who drops things a lot), or maybe saying a person is "ham fisted" or has "sausage fingers" or just "is clumsy." There's some more general things, like if someone causes chaos or makes a mess you might say they're "like a bull in a china shop." You might also describe that someone who is bad at work will "butcher it," or maybe that they will "monkey it up," but I'd say that last one is a bit of a stretch if you're looking for common phrases. More english phrases tend to be about general stupidity or ineptitude than specifically someone being bad with their hands. Two kind of fun examples are "He's about as useful as a glass hammer." and "That guy couldn't pour sand out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel."
Fitz_cuniculus•
Cackhanded or all fingers and thumbs.
JW162000•
I might say something like “they’re not very dextrous” but that’s quite formal. It doesn’t match the vibe of what you’re looking for. I feel like in English you’d just say “I’d ask them to mend that but they’d just mess it up!” or “They’re really clumsy with their hands!”
burnallthebooks•
Someone who does a bad job in their trade, cutting corners or ignoring regulations might be called a ‘cowboy’ (UK). Not quite a perfect match but it’s the closest I can think of. “Plasterers didn’t even keep the wall straight, the cowboys!” As an example.
BrockSamsonLikesButt•
Everything you touch turns to shit!
pixel_pete•
Calling someone "all thumbs" is an idiom used to express this. Thumbs are the fattest and least nimble of the fingers, so if all of your fingers are thumbs it means you are clumsy and bad with your hands.
StoicKerfuffle•
"Clumsy" is the generic term for being awkward in movements, a "klutz" is a clumsy person. "Clumsy" is routinely used by native speakers everywhere, "klutz" is more North American. In my humble opinion, most native speakers would use "clumsy" in your situation, although it's not specific to hands. There are some terms specific to hands, like "cack-handed," but that's uncommon outside the U.K. and generally antiquated there anyway. "Adroit" means skilled with your mind or hands, and so "maladroit" would be a valid term for what you're describing. Beware that, although "maladroit" is still in use and would be recognized by a good number of native speakers, it's nonetheless a fancy word rarely used in conversation that could come off as pretentious, so it's not the sort of colloquial term you're looking for.
handsomechuck•
ham-handed or ham-fisted
TheIneffablePlank•
You can use 'butcher' in this context. Eg, don't come near my car you cackhanded butcher! It's quite strong, and definitely implies someone who would do damage if you let them work on something.
mushroom_sleuth•
It's quite formal, but you can say "is not manually dexterous". I do say this about myself as I am dyspraxic!
mothwhimsy•
Clumsy, though this refers to the entire body, not just hands. All thumbs means not very dextrous Butterfingers means prone to dropping things
clangauss•
"Butterfingers" if you tend to drop things. Having "two left hands" suggests you're not especially coordinated in either one. Being a "greenhorn" or to be "artless" means you're still figuring out the subtleties of a craft.
Agreeable-Fee6850•
If you want a body idiom: have [got] ‘hands like feet’.
13870034•
Clumsy for not having dexterity.
corneliusvancornell•
Someone who is skilled at light construction or related work can be called "handy," at least in American English. The more common meaning of "handy" is for something to be convenient or useful (as when something "comes in handy"), so context is important. A [handyman ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handyman)is not handy in the way a flashlight or a bottle opener or a pack of tissues might be. To be "handy" refers not only to the handling of tools but having some cleverness about the project as a whole, such as what materials to use or what steps are required. >"Wow, your parents' kitchen looks really nice. Did they have it renovated recently?" >"My mom and dad are both pretty handy, so they did all the cabinets and counters themselves." Leaving aside all the terms for clumsiness (e.g. all thumbs, cackhanded, ham-fisted), if I want to express that someone is *not* good at those things, they are simply "not handy." Someone who is not handy could mess up assembling IKEA furniture, which doesn't require any hammers or screwdrivers, but does require following instructions and having a basic understanding of physics. Someone who is skilled at gardening as opposed to construction is said to have a "green thumb." Someone who is unable to keep a garden or whose houseplants struggle might jokingly say they have a "[black thumb](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20thumb)" in contrast.
JenniferJuniper6•
I call that guy, “Dad.” 😉 Although I’ve had this dad for 58 years, I’m not sure there’s a specific word for this. “Bad with his hands,” is what we usually say.
Mcby•
Not sure we have a word for this, but now I wish we did. If you were bad at cleaning I think you'd be more likely to be labelled as "lazy" than anything else, many people simply wouldn't think of it as a "skill" in that way (though it absolutely is)!
FinneyontheWing•
Doubt it's a 'proper' word, but antidextrous?
ItsCalledDayTwa•
All thumbs (I never use this but heard it) Butterfingers (clumsy with hands) (sounds so dated that it would only be said with a hint of irony or by a much older person) Two left feet (clumsy with body, feet, overall)  "Not mechanically inclined" if you're talking about bad with fixing stuff (with your hands, but also lack of skill and ability) 
FinneyontheWing•
Craftless?