wise

an old head on young shoulders

a child or young person who thinks and talks like an older person who has more experience of life. My little nephew said people who dislike other people don't like themselves very much. That's an old head on young shoulders.

See also: head, old, shoulder, young

be penny-wise and pound-foolish (old-fashioned)

to be extremely careful about small amounts of money and not careful enough about larger amounts of money. Saving a little bit of money on repairs can lead to long-term damage. You don't want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish, now do you?

It's easy to be wise after the event. (British, American & Australian, American)

something that you say which means that it is easy to understand what you could have done to prevent something bad from happening after it has happened. In retrospect I suppose we should have realised that she was in trouble and tried to help her but then I suppose it's easy to be wise after the event. People often tell me they'd never have taken out a loan if they'd thought about it more carefully - but it's easy to be smart after the fact.

See also: after, easy, event, it's

a wise guy (American & Australian, informal, American, very informal!)

someone who is always trying to seem more clever than everyone else in a way that is annoying. Okay, wise guy, if you're so damned smart, you can tell everyone how it's done! He's just some wise-ass who thinks he knows all the answers.

See also: guy

wise-guy (American & Australian, informal, American, very informal!)

a wise guy - someone who is always trying to seem more clever than everyone else in a way that is annoying. Hyde's wise-guy humour loses its charm after a few episodes. (always before noun)

A word to the wise (is sufficient).

something that you say when you are going to give someone some advice. A word to the wise - if you're going to drive, don't go on a Friday night until after the rush hour traffic.

See also: word

---

be wise to someone/something

to know about and not be fooled by someone or something. He called in sick almost every Monday, and the boss quickly got wise to him.

Usage notes: often used in the forms wise up (to something/someone) or wise someone up (to something/someone): I finally wised up to their scheme. It's time they wised him up to what's really going on.

penny wise and pound foolish

unwise because doing something small now would prevent much more trouble later. Education budget cuts are penny wise and pound foolish – public education is an investment in our future.

See also: foolish, penny, pound