sharp wit
2
4.1
- noun
:
ingenio agudo
- The artist, whose work displays a strong aesthetic sense and a sharp wit, casts light on colonial values and lifestyles while also poking fun at fetishists who believe the fabrics to be of African origin.
- razor-sharp wit
And yes, Chelsea Handler, who specifically is known for for having a sharp tongue and a sharp wit.
- And yes, Chelsea Handler, who specifically is known for for having a sharp tongue and a sharp wit.
Examples
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It's their famous razor-sharp wit.
Blog text (8) -
These Bay Area controversies from the 1960s also displayed Vance's sharp wit, his pleasure in tweaking the local pomposity of calling San Francisco "The City," and his larger-than-life personality.
Academic text (1999) -
For her unique sense of fashion and sharp wit...
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I love your answers here! Thoughtful, sharp wit, and really
Blog text (32) -
Your sharp wit goes to a new level when you intervene in the discussion.
Blog text (8) -
Great work, Vickie, and I know it was Vickie because of that sharp wit!
Blog text (3) -
Maybe their insightful or expert answers impressed you, or their razor-sharp wit.
Blog text (25) -
She also had a sharp wit and enjoyed making up her own longevity ingredient list for her birthday celebrations every year.
Blog text (24) -
Even among the Monastirials, known for their sharp wit, Elijah Salomo was considered a genius.
Fiction book (1994) -
Her sharp wit always lightens the mood in any conversation.
Synonyms
163
4.0
Ability to think quickly and say clever, amusing things
16
2.8
Quick thinking that finds smart new ideas and solutions
14
6.0
Clever or funny use of words often with puns
9
8.3
Short, clever answers that make people laugh or the skill of giving them in conversation
5
3.8
A quick, clear way of thinking that helps solve problems
3
3.8
A quick mind that shows itself by saying smart, funny things
1
4.1
A quick mind that understands things clearly
1
4.8
Quick thinking that helps you understand and answer fast
To think and answer fast and cleverly
A quick, sharp kind of humor that criticizes ideas or people
Thinking quickly and understanding things easily
Antonyms
How Witty
2
4.1
- Offensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'sharp' (keen/quick) modifies 'wit' (mental agility for clever, humorous remarks), so a learner who knows both words can infer someone who makes quick, intelligent remarks. This Adj+N combination follows ordinary English composition and is cross-linguistically common, making it immediately understandable at B1.
Etymology
The phrase sharp wit comes from the image of sharp like a knife and wit as the mind. A sharp blade makes quick cuts, so a sharp wit makes quick, clever, and sometimes biting remarks, which is why it means 'quick, clever, and often funny remarks'.