enough sense to pound sand into a rathole

English

Alternative forms

• sense enough to pound sand into a rathole

Noun

enough sense to pound sand into a rathole (uncountable)

1. The most basic level of intelligence.
   • 1940, Arizona, the Grand Canyon State: A State Guide, page 155:

     But now you take that long-legged college kid of mine. Course he ain't got sense enough yet to pound sand in a rat hole, but you know what he claims he is ?

   • 2009, Thomas Savage, Annie Proulx, The Power of the Dog:

     They had tried hiring Indians to work in the fields during haying, but as far as machinery went, they didn't have sense enough to pound sand in a rathole.

   • 2014, Larry Schweikart, Michael Allen, A Patriot's History of the United States, page 666:

     When Newsweek magazine ran a survey of fifty journalists, all of whom predicted Truman would lose, the president countered, "I know every one of those fifty fellows and not one of them has enough sense to pound sand into a rathole.”

Usage notes

• Almost always used in negative constructions to describe someone's ignorance or stupidity, such as: He doesn't have enough sense to pound sand into a rathole.

See also

• pound sand
• way out of a paper bag