get (one's) wits about (one)

get (one's) wits about (one)

To stay calm and rational, especially in times of stress. Luckily, the teacher got her wits about her and was able to evacuate all of her students from the burning building. Thank goodness you were able to get your wits about you and call for help when the engine started smoking! Dude! Get your wits about you and help me put out this fire!

See also: get, wit

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get one's wits about one

 and have one's wits about one

Fig. to keep one's thinking in order or make one's mind work smoothly, especially in a time of stress. (See also keep one's wits about one.) Let me get my wits about me so I can figure this out. I don't have my wits about me at this time of the morning.

See also: get, one, wit

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.