What it means
A cheeky way to say someone seems a bit clueless, muddled, or not fully switched on. The image is that their mental card deck is missing a few cards, so the game's not running right. It can be playful banter, but if you aim it hard, it lands as calling someone stupid.
Usage examples
"Dude tried to update his laptop by putting it in the freezer, then wondered why it wouldn’t turn on. He’s not playing with a full deck."
"Anyone who pays full price for that on the same day it goes on sale is not playing with a full deck."
"He tried to pay the bus fare with a loyalty card from the bakery, bless him, not playing with a full deck that morning."
"He put diesel in his petrol car, gave it a hopeful pat, and said it should sort itself out. Man's not playing with a full deck."
"She spent twenty minutes looking for her glasses while they were on her head. Love her, but she's not playing with a full deck today."
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Where it comes from
This comes from older English comparisons about a deck of playing cards missing pieces. If the deck isn't complete, you can't properly play the game. That same image got carried over to someone's brain, meaning they're missing something upstairs. The cards version has been around in everyday English for a long time, especially in joking insults.
Other ways to say it
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