battle of wits
4
6.1
- noun
- /ˈbætəl əv wɪts/
- Informal
:
batalla de ingenios
- In that case, I challenge you to a battle of wits.
OK, intellectual sparring, an intellectual battle, a battle of wits.
- OK, intellectual sparring, an intellectual battle, a battle of wits.
Examples
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All's Well makes a woman its victor in this battle of wits.
Academic text (2005) -
During the debate, the two candidates engaged in a fierce battle of wits.
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It's a battle of wits!
Blog text (20) -
I challenged you to a battle of wits.
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The battle of wits has begun.
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I'm not going to engage in a battle of wits with you.
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In the battle of wits, you, sir, are unarmed.
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Our sponsor, brilliant.org will help you develop the skills to survive any battle of wits life throws at you.
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Maybe his mischievous grin was infectious, or maybe it was only his enthusiasm, but she found herself enjoying the battle of wits.
Fiction book (2002) -
There is a Holmes-esque battle of wits waged between Fu Manchu and Nayland Smith, who has a sidekick named Dr. Petrie filling the Watson role.
Blog text (6)
Synonyms
38
5.5
A contest between two skilled opponents, for example two teams or candidates
4
5.8
A short angry argument where people try to gain an advantage
2
4.9
A game or puzzle that makes you think and use your brain
1
7.5
A public argument where people attack each other's ideas
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a contest using intelligence' is directly derivable from combining 'battle' (a contest/struggle) with 'wits' (intelligence) via the simple noun-of-noun pattern; a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer this sense. The construction is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so it is predictable rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
Battle of wits paints the picture of a battle where people fight with their wits, or cleverness, instead of weapons. That's why it means a contest where people try to outsmart each other or 'use their intelligence'.