Word or phrase for showing great skill at something WITHOUT formal training in it
Is there a word or phrase to describe someone who is NOT formally trained at something — yet he/she IS GOOD AT IT?
The person could be good at drawing/art, or mathematics, or carpentry, or boxing, or a musical instrument, etc.
I thought the word for what I described is "UNTUTORED" because according to Collins Dictionary:
👉 UNTUTORED = adjective ▸ "If someone is untutored, they have not been formally trained to do something, although they may be quite skilled at it." 👈
One of the two example sentences Collins offered was:
➔ 'This untutored mathematician had an obsession with numbers.'
So because of Collins's definition, I took "untutored" as having to do with innate abilities, like a kid who happens to draw so great, or have a knack for a musical instrument — BEFORE any formal training.
But the problem is NO other dictionary defines "untutored" this way. ALL the others define it along the lines of "lacking in schooling".
So any help in describing «being good at something without being trained in it» would be appreciated.
phrase-requests
asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
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Is there a word or phrase to describe someone who is NOT formally trained at something — yet he/she IS GOOD AT IT?
The person could be good at drawing/art, or mathematics, or carpentry, or boxing, or a musical instrument, etc.
I thought the word for what I described is "UNTUTORED" because according to Collins Dictionary:
👉 UNTUTORED = adjective ▸ "If someone is untutored, they have not been formally trained to do something, although they may be quite skilled at it." 👈
One of the two example sentences Collins offered was:
➔ 'This untutored mathematician had an obsession with numbers.'
So because of Collins's definition, I took "untutored" as having to do with innate abilities, like a kid who happens to draw so great, or have a knack for a musical instrument — BEFORE any formal training.
But the problem is NO other dictionary defines "untutored" this way. ALL the others define it along the lines of "lacking in schooling".
So any help in describing «being good at something without being trained in it» would be appreciated.
phrase-requests
asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
New contributor
Pope Nick the Great is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I like talented
– Mark VY
43 mins ago
add a comment |
Is there a word or phrase to describe someone who is NOT formally trained at something — yet he/she IS GOOD AT IT?
The person could be good at drawing/art, or mathematics, or carpentry, or boxing, or a musical instrument, etc.
I thought the word for what I described is "UNTUTORED" because according to Collins Dictionary:
👉 UNTUTORED = adjective ▸ "If someone is untutored, they have not been formally trained to do something, although they may be quite skilled at it." 👈
One of the two example sentences Collins offered was:
➔ 'This untutored mathematician had an obsession with numbers.'
So because of Collins's definition, I took "untutored" as having to do with innate abilities, like a kid who happens to draw so great, or have a knack for a musical instrument — BEFORE any formal training.
But the problem is NO other dictionary defines "untutored" this way. ALL the others define it along the lines of "lacking in schooling".
So any help in describing «being good at something without being trained in it» would be appreciated.
phrase-requests
asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
New contributor
Pope Nick the Great is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Is there a word or phrase to describe someone who is NOT formally trained at something — yet he/she IS GOOD AT IT?
The person could be good at drawing/art, or mathematics, or carpentry, or boxing, or a musical instrument, etc.
I thought the word for what I described is "UNTUTORED" because according to Collins Dictionary:
👉 UNTUTORED = adjective ▸ "If someone is untutored, they have not been formally trained to do something, although they may be quite skilled at it." 👈
One of the two example sentences Collins offered was:
➔ 'This untutored mathematician had an obsession with numbers.'
So because of Collins's definition, I took "untutored" as having to do with innate abilities, like a kid who happens to draw so great, or have a knack for a musical instrument — BEFORE any formal training.
But the problem is NO other dictionary defines "untutored" this way. ALL the others define it along the lines of "lacking in schooling".
So any help in describing «being good at something without being trained in it» would be appreciated.
phrase-requests
phrase-requests
asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
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asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
New contributor
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asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
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asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
asked 2 hours ago
Pope Nick the GreatPope Nick the Great
111
111
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I like talented
– Mark VY
43 mins ago
add a comment |
I like talented
– Mark VY
43 mins ago
I like talented
– Mark VY
43 mins ago
I like talented
– Mark VY
43 mins ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
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a natural-born X TFD idiom
Possessing an ability innately. The term is always used as a modifier
before a noun.
As in:
My daughter is a natural-born chef.
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
add a comment |
Often these sorts of people are called "naturals" -- "Wow, your kid is a real natural at basketball! I can't believe he's never had a coach!"
Such people, especially children, may also be called "prodigies", which mildly-suggests that they were pretty good before training, but doesn't rule out training per se. Some English speakers have adopted the German term, wunderkind.
I think you're correct in shunning 'untutored' for this application.
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
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In some contexts "self-taught" might be appropriate.
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
add a comment |
Well! It's taken me a little while combing through some dictionaries and thesauruses, I believe "Innate" is the word you are looking for.
Innate: adjective:
1.) Existing in an animal or a person from birth; congenital; inborn
2.) Instinctive; Not Learned
3.) (In rationalist Philosophy)(of Ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason
Instinctive; Intuitive; Natural; Prodigy; Constitutional
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
a natural-born X TFD idiom
Possessing an ability innately. The term is always used as a modifier
before a noun.
As in:
My daughter is a natural-born chef.
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
add a comment |
a natural-born X TFD idiom
Possessing an ability innately. The term is always used as a modifier
before a noun.
As in:
My daughter is a natural-born chef.
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
add a comment |
a natural-born X TFD idiom
Possessing an ability innately. The term is always used as a modifier
before a noun.
As in:
My daughter is a natural-born chef.
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
a natural-born X TFD idiom
Possessing an ability innately. The term is always used as a modifier
before a noun.
As in:
My daughter is a natural-born chef.
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
answered 2 hours ago
lbflbf
21.6k22575
21.6k22575
add a comment |
add a comment |
Often these sorts of people are called "naturals" -- "Wow, your kid is a real natural at basketball! I can't believe he's never had a coach!"
Such people, especially children, may also be called "prodigies", which mildly-suggests that they were pretty good before training, but doesn't rule out training per se. Some English speakers have adopted the German term, wunderkind.
I think you're correct in shunning 'untutored' for this application.
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
New contributor
Roger is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Often these sorts of people are called "naturals" -- "Wow, your kid is a real natural at basketball! I can't believe he's never had a coach!"
Such people, especially children, may also be called "prodigies", which mildly-suggests that they were pretty good before training, but doesn't rule out training per se. Some English speakers have adopted the German term, wunderkind.
I think you're correct in shunning 'untutored' for this application.
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
New contributor
Roger is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Often these sorts of people are called "naturals" -- "Wow, your kid is a real natural at basketball! I can't believe he's never had a coach!"
Such people, especially children, may also be called "prodigies", which mildly-suggests that they were pretty good before training, but doesn't rule out training per se. Some English speakers have adopted the German term, wunderkind.
I think you're correct in shunning 'untutored' for this application.
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
New contributor
Roger is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Often these sorts of people are called "naturals" -- "Wow, your kid is a real natural at basketball! I can't believe he's never had a coach!"
Such people, especially children, may also be called "prodigies", which mildly-suggests that they were pretty good before training, but doesn't rule out training per se. Some English speakers have adopted the German term, wunderkind.
I think you're correct in shunning 'untutored' for this application.
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
New contributor
Roger is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
New contributor
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answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
answered 2 hours ago
RogerRoger
5115
5115
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New contributor
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In some contexts "self-taught" might be appropriate.
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
add a comment |
In some contexts "self-taught" might be appropriate.
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
add a comment |
In some contexts "self-taught" might be appropriate.
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
In some contexts "self-taught" might be appropriate.
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
answered 1 hour ago
George WhiteGeorge White
64048
64048
add a comment |
add a comment |
Well! It's taken me a little while combing through some dictionaries and thesauruses, I believe "Innate" is the word you are looking for.
Innate: adjective:
1.) Existing in an animal or a person from birth; congenital; inborn
2.) Instinctive; Not Learned
3.) (In rationalist Philosophy)(of Ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason
Instinctive; Intuitive; Natural; Prodigy; Constitutional
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
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Mark David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
Well! It's taken me a little while combing through some dictionaries and thesauruses, I believe "Innate" is the word you are looking for.
Innate: adjective:
1.) Existing in an animal or a person from birth; congenital; inborn
2.) Instinctive; Not Learned
3.) (In rationalist Philosophy)(of Ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason
Instinctive; Intuitive; Natural; Prodigy; Constitutional
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
New contributor
Mark David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Well! It's taken me a little while combing through some dictionaries and thesauruses, I believe "Innate" is the word you are looking for.
Innate: adjective:
1.) Existing in an animal or a person from birth; congenital; inborn
2.) Instinctive; Not Learned
3.) (In rationalist Philosophy)(of Ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason
Instinctive; Intuitive; Natural; Prodigy; Constitutional
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
New contributor
Mark David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Well! It's taken me a little while combing through some dictionaries and thesauruses, I believe "Innate" is the word you are looking for.
Innate: adjective:
1.) Existing in an animal or a person from birth; congenital; inborn
2.) Instinctive; Not Learned
3.) (In rationalist Philosophy)(of Ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason
Instinctive; Intuitive; Natural; Prodigy; Constitutional
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
New contributor
Mark David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
New contributor
Mark David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
answered 1 hour ago
Mark DavidMark David
111
111
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New contributor
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Pope Nick the Great is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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I like talented
– Mark VY
43 mins ago