sharp as a tack
5
6.7
- idiom
- Informal
:
inteligente como un zorro
- During the quiz, her answers showed she was sharp as a tack and knew the material inside out.
- a sharp as a tack mind
Well, no, he's mad because she is as sharp as a tack.
- Well, no, he's mad because she is as sharp as a tack.
- Feisty as you can be, sharp as a tack.
- They are so over their skis against the brilliant quick witted sharp as a tack Harris campaign.
Examples
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You are sharp as a tack today!
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This kid is sharp as a tack.
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Your mind is fresh, it is sharp as a tack and you are ready to go.
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And I need to get her on my show, by the way, Sharp as a tack and an amazing, amazing woman.
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Your mind is sharp as a tack.
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Jill, on the other hand, is kind, sweet, and sharp as a tack.
Blog text (4) -
I mean, clearly you're still sharp as a tack.
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I know every parent thinks it about his or her kid, but Mary Bernadette is as sharp as a tack.
Blog text (16) -
She was sharp as a tack and knew how to play the tune P.M. wanted to hear.
Fiction book (1990) -
She looked so frail and neglected, and yet her mind was as sharp as a tack.
Blog text (6)
Synonyms
∞
1.9
Shows quick thinking and good understanding
573
1.7
Understands things quickly and finds smart solutions
353
1.2
Quick to learn and understand new things
152
3.3
Quick at noticing small details and understanding things
61
3.2
Able to understand and answer fast
50
4.7
Good at judging situations and making smart business decisions
40
6.9
Good at understanding a situation quickly and using it to get an advantage
9
5.6
Quick to notice and understand things
8
6.8
Showing a clear, deep understanding and explaining ideas sharply
5
7.0
Very quick to understand things and find answers
4
4.8
Able to think and give smart fast answers
4
5.2
Able to think and answer quickly in surprising or difficult situations
1
6.7
Able to understand new ideas very quickly
Very clear and exact so there is no doubt
Antonyms
How Intelligent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The expression directly compares mental acuity ('sharp') to a physically sharp object ('tack') using the standard comparative scaffold 'as ... as', so the intensified meaning 'very intelligent' can be inferred from the constituent meanings. This simile pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows normal English comparison, so a B1 learner who knows the words is likely to understand it.
Etymology
Sharp as a tack comes from the tiny metal tack, a little nail with a very sharp point. Saying someone's mind is sharp like that small nail gives a clear picture of quick thinking, so the phrase means 'very intelligent'.