clever-clever response
- noun
- Offensive
:
respuesta pedante
- He always has a clever-clever response to criticism, but rarely addresses the real issue.
Examples
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Her clever-clever response made everyone laugh, though it came off as a bit smug.
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When asked about his lateness, his clever-clever response did little to impress the manager.
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Wow, what a clever-clever response!
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Her clever-clever response left everyone speechless.
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His clever-clever response to the awkward question showed off his wit but felt rather insincere.
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She gave a clever-clever response during the meeting, which left everyone amused but unsure of her true feelings.
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Although humorous, his clever-clever response to the serious problem was seen as a distraction from the main issue.
Synonyms
47
3.7
A quick witty or critical reply to a remark
19
8.1
A short clever remark that surprises and amuses people
14
6.1
A quick clever reply to a comment that shows anger or wit
9
8.3
Short, clever answers that make people laugh or the skill of giving them in conversation
5
7.2
A clever short remark meant to make people laugh
4
7.7
A quick clever reply that answers and often criticizes someone
2
8.3
A quick clever reply to a remark or criticism
1
3.6
A fast, clever reply to a remark or insult
A quick smart reply that surprises and stops someone from criticizing you
A quick, clever comment that is slightly cheeky
A quick clever reply that answers an insult or criticism
A quick, clever reply that surprises others
Antonyms
How Clever
Surface Forms
Morphology
clever-clever + response
A learner who knows 'clever' and 'response' will infer a reply involving cleverness, so the basic compositional meaning is accessible. However, the doubled form 'clever-clever' carries an ironic/pejorative or showy nuance (mocking or self-conscious cleverness) that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone and depends on pragmatic familiarity with English reduplication, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Clever-clever response comes from the image of someone saying clever twice to show off a smart line. That repeated, showy answer is why the phrase now means a witty reply that feels 'not sincere' or like a 'show-off'.