What is the story behind the phrase 'As dumb as a Dodo'?

The dodo bird is a now-extinct species that lived on the island of Mauritius about 300 years ago. Over hundreds of years, no predators lived on the island. So it devolved, as it were, to become slow-moving and unable to fly. Its life was still good until Dutch settlers came to the island. read more

Thus, someone can be 'as dumb as a dodo' if they don't react appropriately to their situation. Another phrase regarding the bird is 'dead as a dodo', because they quickly became extinct as others settled in their habitat. read more

The Dodo Bird -- Not As Dumb As We Thought - The dodo bird may have been a keystone species and when it went extinct it affected life around it. Learn about the dodo bird. read more