the lights are on but nobody’s home
US /ðə laɪts ɑr ɑn bʌt ˈnoʊbədiz hoʊm/
UK /ðə laɪts ɑr ɑn bʌt ˈnoʊbədiz hoʊm/
1.
used to describe someone who is not very intelligent or is not paying attention
:
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He just stared blankly when I asked him a question, like the lights are on but nobody’s home.
•
Sometimes I worry about my brother; he can be a bit slow, you know, the lights are on but nobody’s home.