clever



too clever by half

Too contrived or arrogant in one's cleverness or intelligence, to the point of being irritating to others. Primarily heard in UK. I think every adolescent goes through a stage where they become too clever by half and begin to think of themselves as the only person who has things figured out. The phones people use these days are all too clever by half—I can barely even use them to make phone calls!
See also: clever, half

clever clogs

A light-hearted or humorous way to refer to an intelligent or clever person. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. He's such a clever clogs. There is no question he can't answer.
See also: clever, clog

clever boots

A light-hearted or humorous way to refer to an intelligent or clever person. Primarily heard in Australia. Judy's such a clever boots. She solved the puzzle in 30 seconds.
See also: boot, clever

clever dick

A person who irritates others by contantly trying to prove his or her superior intelligence. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Don't be such a clever dick! It's not necessary to correct everyone's grammar all of the time.
See also: clever, dick

box clever

  (British)
to behave in a clever and sometimes slightly dishonest way to try to achieve a result you want
Usage notes: A good boxer (= man who fights as a sport) is a person who uses skill as well as strength to win fights.
Obviously he would have to box clever in the witness stand to avoid implicating himself.
See also: box, clever

a clever clogs

  (British & Australian humorous) also a clever boots (Australian humorous)
if you call someone a clever clogs, you mean that they are very clever I bet old clever clogs here knows the answer.
See also: clever, clog

a clever dick

  (British & Australian)
someone who tries too hard to show that they are clever, in a way which annoys other people He's such a clever dick, talking loudly on the phone in lots of different languages.
See also: clever, dick

be too clever by half

  (British)
to be too confident of your own intelligence in a way that annoys other people At school he had a reputation for arrogance. 'Too clever by half' was how one former teacher described him.
See box clever
See also: clever, half

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
LearyLEER-eeIrish
Ngawang-Tibetan, Bhutanese
Borislavabah-ree-SLAH-vah (Russian)Bulgarian, Serbian, Russian
ElŽBieta-Lithuanian
MÓNicaMO-nee-kahSpanish
Valens-Ancient Roman