to have (one's) wits about (one)
- idiom
- Informal
:
estar alerta
- When crossing a busy street, it's wise to have your wits about you.
Examples
-
She managed to escape the scam because she had her wits about her.
-
During the intense debate, he always had his wits about him and responded quickly.
-
In order to avoid accidents, you must have your wits about you when driving.
-
He had his wits about him during the emergency, making quick decisions to ensure everyone's safety.
-
When faced with sudden changes at work, it helps to have your wits about you to adapt effectively.
Synonyms
8
6.1
To answer or act quickly and clearly when something unexpected happens
1
6.3
To stay alert and ready for anything that might happen
Antonyms
How Alert
3
4.2
4
4.8
- Informal
82
2.8
24
2.0
11
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
have + (one's) + wits + about + (one)
The components are largely compositional: 'have' (possess) + 'wits' (mental acuity) + 'about (one)' (with/around you) together yield the sense of possessing your mental faculties in a situation. However, the fixed phrase shape and the somewhat idiomatic use of 'wits' and 'about one' make the exact nuance 'remain alert and able to think quickly' not fully predictable for a B1 learner, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Have (one's) wits about (one) creates a simple image: wits are your quick thoughts, and to have them about you is like keeping them close at hand so you can use them fast. So it means 'to stay alert and think quickly'.