clever

Word family

clev·er /ˈklevə $ -ər/ S2 adjectiveadj

1 especially British EnglishBrEINTELLIGENT able to learn and understand things quickly 聪明的，聪颖的 SYN intelligent, American English smart

a clever man

聪明的人

very/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever

Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.

露西很聪明，学习成绩很好。

► see thesaurus at intelligent

2 INTELLIGENTable to use your intelligence to get what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way 耍小聪明的，滑头的

a clever lawyer’s tricks

滑头律师的诡计

3 especially British EnglishBrEGOOD AT skilful at doing a particular thing 灵巧的，伶俐的；熟练的

Bill’s very clever with his hands.

比尔双手很灵巧。

his clever ball control

他精妙的控球

clever at doing something

He was clever at finding bargains.

他很会淘便宜货。

4 EFFECTIVEdone or made in an unusual or interesting way that is very effective 机敏的；巧妙的

What a clever little gadget!

多么巧妙的小玩意！

a clever marketing strategy

巧妙的营销策略

5 STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE British EnglishBrE spoken used jokingly when someone has done something silly or stupid 真聪明！〔某人干了蠢事时说的玩笑话〕

‘When I got to the library I found I’d left the books at home.’ ‘That was clever!’

“到了图书馆我才发现把书忘在家里了。”“你真行啊！”

6. clever clogs/dick INTELLIGENT British EnglishBrE spoken used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right 自以为聪明的人

Examples from the Corpus

clever clogs/dick• I don't claim to be an expert and I certainly don't consider myself a clever clogs.• Next time just stay at home and switch on the telly, clever clogs.

7. be too clever by half INTELLIGENT British EnglishBrE spoken to be clever, and to show that you are clever in a way that annoys other people 精明过头

Examples from the Corpus

be too clever by half• Phil's good at thinking up excuses for his behaviour - he's too clever by half.

—cleverly adverbadv

—cleverness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

clever• Actually, it's quite clever.• Who would have thought the old man could be so clever?• She was clever, and he thought she was a bit too serious, although she had a sense of humour.• They won the case by being clever and hiring influential lawyers to help them.• Tabloid reporters are very clever and persistent.• Doug's always been clever at finding the best deals available.• In the story, the miller's daughter is a clever, beautiful girl.• Gibson met a clever classmate who had built his own radio transmitter.• From the start it was conceived as a clever commercial package rather than a deeply personal film.• It is a clever device that can chop onions in seconds.• It sounds like a clever idea. Do you think it'll work?• What I like is how clever it is.• a clever joke• If he didn't, some clever lawyer would get the boy off on a technicality.• Virtual Listening Systems have introduced one of the year's most unusual and clever new products.• That was very clever of you, How did you do that?• Ben Gurion was a cool, calculating and clever politician.• My sister was always much cleverer than me at school.• I've thought of a really clever way of making money.• He can be really clever when he wants to be.• They are clever work, but they merely represent a harnessing of this quantum effect.

very/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever• However, for some one supposed to be very clever, he seemed to get a great deal of pleasure out of ordinary things.• Feedback is a very clever idea.• Meredith, you're either very clever, or unbelievably naïve.• It was all very clever, really, because all the wedding presents had just more or less run out.• It really was a very clever thing indeed.• Both play a very clever trick which will answer the prayers of video users all round the world.• How right you are, very clever, very ... disputatious.

Origin clever

(1200-1300) Probably from a Scandinavian language

clev·er adjectiveadj

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus