space cadet

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a person who appears to be in their own world or out of touch with reality.

2. a person who behaves oddly or seems stupefied or remote because of the influence of drugs; druggie.

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space cadet British  

noun

1. slang a person who is eccentric or out of touch with reality, as if affected by drugs

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Etymology

Origin of space cadet

1950–55, for sense “spaceman trainee”

Example Sentences

G was always a little bit of a space cadet.

From Literature

“There’s no way that Squeaky thought that up for herself,” he told The Times, describing her as a “space cadet.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Like, my mother is, like, a total space cadet,” Moon says, as the chorus croons “Valley girl” on repeat between lines.

From Los Angeles Times

“Bought a spaceship now I’m a space cadet/Big white mansion is my habitat.”

From New York Times

The Times called him a “space cadet” because of his penchant for landing in odd situations — like tumbling into the SeaWorld walrus pit as a child and getting locked inside a zoo after hours.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• addict
• drug user
• substance abuser
• user