“Four cents short of a nickel” is a description of someone who is “not all there.” The expression is found on many lists of “full deckisms” (that is, “he’s not playing with a full deck”).
“Four cents short of a nickel” is cited in print since at least 1987.
Canonical List of Fulldeckisms
(As in, “He’s not playing with a full deck.”)
A compendium of insults and “not all there” comments from various sources, beginning with rec.humor, April 1987.
(...)
420. Four cents short of a nickel.
Short of a Full Deck - Chez Goodman
Four cents short of a nickel.
24 November 1987, Mass Media (Boston, MA), pg. 11, col. 1:
Her (Barbra Streisand—ed.) head down, her hair tangled, her face sullen, she does indeed look as if she’s four cents short of a nickel.
1 January 1989, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Politics gives Glendale heights a big-city flavor” by Jody Temkin, Du Page, pg. 1:
“These people all appear to me to be about six cents short of a nickel,” said Sullivan, when asked if she put Fonte and Pastore up to the petition challenge.
Google Groups: rec.humor
Newsgroups: rec.humor
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Bryan Hannahs)
Date: 7 Mar 91 09:35:49 GMT
Local: Thurs, Mar 7 1991 4:35 am
Subject: Re: Cliches (was Re: Schoolhouse Rock)
He’s about 4 cents short of a nickel.
Google Groups: rec.humor
Newsgroups: rec.humor
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Mick Shatswell)
Date: 6 Aug 91 16:05:36 GMT
Local: Tues, Aug 6 1991 11:05 am
Subject: Re: Not Too Bright ... (PLEASE READ!!!)
About four cents short of a nickel.
Miami (FL) New Times
Published on May 12, 1993
(...)
Scotti has a sizable voice, but his delivery is all pose, nothing that Rick Astley couldn’t knock off on his way to has-been rehab, and the flat stab at the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes chestnut “Wake Up Everybody” is about four cents short of a nickel.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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