If you say that someone is not the full shilling, you mean that they are stupid or crazy. We all thought he wasn't quite the full shilling because he was slow — slow at sums and slow at writing.

What is not a full shilling mean?

phrase. informal British. Very unintelligent or slow. 'he's not the full shilling, but a damn good worker' ''I'm sure when he asked people's advice he was told 'you're not the full shilling' or 'would you stop behaving like an eejit'.

What does the phrase full shilling mean?

Noun. the full shilling (plural not attested) (Britain, Ireland) In control of one's mental faculties; sane; all there.