[Idiom] idioms, meaning "to be very clever"

Status
Not open for further replies.

Olenek

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2011
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation
Hi, :)

There are some phrases with the sense "to be very clever":

To have a clear head;
To have a good head on one's shoulders;
To be a bright spark;
To have one's head screwed on;
To be as bright as a button;
To be as clever as a cartload of monkeys;
To be quick in the uptake.


Do you use/ know other phrases with the same sense?

Thanks for all your replies! :)
 

SanMar

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2011
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Hi, :)

There are some phrases with the sense "to be very clever":

To have a clear head;
To have a good head on one's shoulders;
To be a bright spark;
To have one's head screwed on;
To be as bright as a button;
To be as clever as a cartload of monkeys;
To be quick in the uptake.


Do you use/ know other phrases with the same sense?

Thanks for all your replies! :)


smarty pants
You got an A? Good for you Ms. Smarty pants.
He always gets good grades he's such a smarty pants.

We also call smart people brainers.

Not a teacher.
:)
 

blokerama

New member
Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
In the UK, at least, these expressions are common -

'Swot' - this is meant sarcastically

'Brainbox' - this is a 'kinder' expression, and is not meant sarcastically
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan

mara_ce

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Argentina
Current Location
Argentina
smart as a whip
 

Mr_Ben

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Switzerland
Hi, :)

There are some phrases with the sense "to be very clever":

To have a clear head; --for me, this just means "free of distractions and stress"
To have a good head on one's shoulders;
To be a bright spark;
To have one's head screwed on; --for me this means "having common sense"
To be as bright as a button;
To be as clever as a cartload of monkeys; --never heard this one
To be quick on the uptake.


Do you use/ know other phrases with the same sense?
Clever as a fox
Sharp as a tack



Thanks for all your replies! :)

B
 

ehsaning

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Greece
Current Location
Hong Kong
I head the phrase: "smart a-s-s" in a movie!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top