smart as a whip
5
7.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
inteligente como un látigo
- Although he doesn't look it, he's as smart as a whip.
- smart as a whip, my girl
- smart as a whip, too
Her name was Rosario, African American, big personality, smart as a whip.
- Her name was Rosario, African American, big personality, smart as a whip.
Examples
-
My kid is as smart as a whip.
-
The kid was eager and smart as a whip.
Fiction book (1991) -
This one's smart as a whip.
-
The kids are as smart as a whip!
Fiction book (1990) -
I'm smart as a whip.
-
And she's just as smart as a whip.
-
Joe says he's as smart as a whip.
-
You're smart as a whip.
-
He knew from the beginning of their courtship that she was smart as a whip.
Fiction book (1993) -
My friend is as smart as a whip and always comes up with great ideas.
Synonyms
∞
1.9
Shows quick thinking and good understanding
949
3.7
Very clever and skilled at thinking or solving problems
573
1.7
Understands things quickly and finds smart solutions
507
3.4
Able to think, understand, and learn new things
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
21
3.9
Very smart in a way that others notice
5
4.1
Very intelligent and quick to solve problems
5
6.7
Able to understand new things very quickly
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
4
7.5
Good at handling difficult situations and doing things with your hands
Very clever in a tricky and often playful way
Antonyms
How Clever
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although the constituents 'smart' and the comparative structure 'as a' are transparent, the comparison to 'a whip' relies on a metaphor (whip = sharp/quick) to convey mental quickness. This figurative mapping is not fully predictable from the parts and may require cultural or idiomatic knowledge, so a B1 learner who knows the words would not reliably infer the exact meaning.
Etymology
Smart as a whip may come from the sharp, sudden crack of a whip, which is quick and hits with a clear snap. So calling someone smart as a whip means they are very fast at thinking and 'very clever'.