In everyday conversation, we often come across people who contribute little, make big promises but never deliver, or simply get in the way more than they help.
Rather than calling them out directly, English offers a colourful range of idioms that capture this idea with humour, sarcasm, or wit.
31 Idioms for a Useless Person
1. All hat and no cattle
Meaning: Someone who talks big but doesn’t deliver.
He brags about his skills, but he’s all hat and no cattle.
Don’t be fooled—she’s all show, no substance.
2. Not worth a hill of beans
Meaning: Of little or no value.
Their advice turned out to be not worth a hill of beans.
That excuse isn’t worth a hill of beans.
3. As useful as a chocolate teapot
Meaning: Completely useless.
In a crisis, he is as useful as a chocolate teapot.
That app update is as useful as a chocolate teapot.
4. Dead weight
Meaning: Someone who slows things down or contributes nothing.
We had to carry his dead weight the whole project.
She’s become dead weight in the team.
5. A waste of space
Meaning: A harsh term for someone who contributes nothing.
He just sits there—what a waste of space.
They hired him, but he turned out to be a total waste of space.
6. Can’t cut the mustard
Meaning: Not good enough to succeed.
He tried sales, but couldn’t cut the mustard.
If she can’t cut the mustard, we will find someone who can.
7. More trouble than they’re worth
Meaning: The effort of dealing with someone outweighs any benefit.
That old printer is more trouble than it’s worth—just replace it.
Sometimes, certain friendships are more trouble than they’re worth.
8. Not pulling their weight
Meaning: Not doing one’s fair share of work.
She’s not pulling her weight on this team.
If you don’t pull your weight, you’ll be left behind.
9. As much use as a screen door on a submarine
Meaning: Ridiculously or laughably useless.
That new software is as much use as a screen door on a submarine—it crashes every time.
He’s as helpful as a screen door on a submarine.
10. A lame duck
Meaning: Ineffective or powerless.
Ever since he announced his resignation, the CEO has been a lame duck—nobody listens to him anymore.
The committee is a lame duck—can’t make any real decisions.
11. A square peg in a round hole
Meaning: A poor fit for the task or role.
He’s a square peg in a round hole at this company.
She doesn’t belong here—total mismatch.
12. Out to lunch
Meaning: Mentally absent or clueless.
He’s completely out to lunch during meetings.
She looked at me like she was out to lunch—zero clue.
13. Not firing on all cylinders
Meaning: Not functioning properly or efficiently.
That team isn’t firing on all cylinders.
I’m tired today—not firing on all cylinders.
14. Spinning their wheels
Meaning: Wasting time or effort without making progress.
We are just spinning our wheels with him on board.
They keep trying, but it’s just wheel-spinning.
15. Missing the boat
Meaning: Failing to act in time or understand something important.
He missed the boat on that opportunity.
She’s missing the boat if she thinks that’ll work.
16. All bark and no bite
Meaning: Someone who talks tough but doesn’t take action.
He threatens to quit every week but never does—he’s all bark and no bite.
Don’t worry about her complaints—she’s all bark and no bite.
17. A one-trick pony
Meaning: Someone with only one skill or idea, making them limited.
He’s a one-trick pony—once his trick fails, he’s lost.
He’s a one-trick pony—great at marketing, but completely clueless about operations.
18. Can’t hold a candle to (someone/something)
Meaning: Inferior or not nearly as good as someone or something else.
No matter how hard he tries, he can’t hold a candle to his older brother’s cooking skills.
This new phone can’t hold a candle to last year’s model in terms of performance.
19. All sizzle and no steak
Meaning: Looks impressive, but has no real substance.
The pitch was all sizzle and no steak—nothing solid behind it.
He talks big, but his results? All sizzle, no steak.
20. A dime a dozen
Meaning: So common that it lacks value.
Influencers like him are a dime a dozen on social media these days.
Cheap souvenirs in tourist areas are a dime a dozen.
21. More style than substance
Meaning: Looks good but lacks depth or effectiveness.
Her presentation was more style than substance.
He dresses sharp, but when it comes to work, there’s nothing behind it.
22. All foam, no beer
Meaning: All show, no substance — someone or something that talks big or looks good but fails to deliver.
The new guy is all foam, no beer—talks well, does little.
That ad campaign was all foam, no beer—no actual sales followed.
23. A dog that won’t hunt
Meaning: A person or idea that won’t work or succeed.
That strategy’s a dog that won’t hunt—forget it.
Hiring him was like choosing a dog that won’t hunt.
24. As useful as a lead balloon
Meaning: Completely ineffective or counterproductive.
His joke went down like a lead balloon.
That plan is as useful as a lead balloon—don’t bother.
25. On the sidelines
Meaning: Not involved or contributing.
He stayed on the sidelines while others did the hard work.
She’s always on the sidelines, never taking initiative.
26. Just a pretty face
Meaning: Someone who looks good but lacks skill or depth.
They hired her for looks—she’s just a pretty face.
Don’t be just a pretty face—prove your talent.
27. Going through the motions
Meaning: Doing something without effort or purpose.
He’s just going through the motions at work.
You won’t succeed if you’re only going through the motions.
28. A loose unit (UK/Aus informal)
Meaning: Unreliable, unpredictable, and often unhelpful.
He’s a bit of a loose unit—can’t count on him for anything.
Don’t bring him into the project—he’s a loose unit.
29. In over their head
Meaning: Lacking the ability or experience to handle the situation.
He’s in over his head with this job.
She took on more than she could handle and quickly got in over her head.
30. A flash in the pan
Meaning: Someone who briefly shows promise but quickly fails.
He scored one goal and disappeared—just a flash in the pan.
Her early success was a flash in the pan—nothing lasting followed.
31. Doesn’t have a clue
Meaning: Completely unaware or incompetent.
He acts like a manager but doesn’t have a clue.
She was clearly out of her depth—didn’t have a clue what to do.
