bright

*bright as a button

intelligent; quick-minded. (Usually used to describe children. *Also: as ~.) Why, Mrs. Green, your little girl is as bright as a button. You can't fool Jane. She may be only six years old, but she's bright as a button.

See also: button

*bright as a new pin

bright and clean; shiny. (*Also: as ~.) After Joe cleaned the house, it was as bright as a new pin. My kitchen floor is bright as a new pin since I started using this new floor wax.

See also: new, pin

*bright idea

a clever thought or new idea. (*Typically: have ~; get ~; give someone ~.) Now and then I get a bright idea. John hardly ever gets a bright idea.

See also: idea

bright and breezy

cheery and alert. You look all bright and breezy this morning. Bright and breezy people on a gloomy day like this make me sick.

See also: and, breezy

bright and early

very early in the morning or the workday. Yes, I'll be there bright and early. I want to see you here on time tomorrow, bright and early, or you're fired!

See also: and, early

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

Fig. awake and alert. (Often used ironically, as in the first example. The idea is that one is like a frisky animal, such as a squirrel.) Jill: Hi, Jane! How are you on this beautiful morning? Jane: Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, just as you might expect, since I've only had three hours of sleep. Despite the early hour, Dennis was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

See also: and

look on the bright side

Fig. consider the positive aspects of a negative situation. Look on the bright side. Things could have been much worse than they are.

See also: look, side

on the bright side

Fig. [ignoring the bad for a moment] considering the positive aspects of a situation. (See also look on the bright side.) On the bright side, the car you wrecked was covered by insurance.

See also: side

one's future looks bright.

Fig. One has a promising future. Tom's future looks bright and he will do well if he keeps working hard.

See also: future, look

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a bright spark  (British & Australian)

an intelligent person

Usage notes: This phrase is often used humorously to mean the opposite.

Some bright spark was clearing up and threw my invitation away.

See also: spark

a bright spot

a pleasant or successful event or period of time when most other things are unpleasant or not successful (often + in ) The only bright spot in Liverpool's disastrous performance was a stunning goal in the second half.

See also: spot

be as bright as a button  (British & Australian)

to be intelligent and able to think quickly She was bright as a button - always asking questions and quick to help.

See also: button

be bright and breezy

to be happy and confident I get a bit depressed at times, whereas Gill's always bright and breezy.

See also: and, breezy

be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed  (humorous)

to be full of energy and eager to do things She was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next morning, despite having been up half the night.

See also: and

bright and early

very early in the morning You're up bright and early.

See also: and, early

look on the bright side

to try to see something good in a bad situation Look on the bright side. The accident insurance might pay for a new car.

See also: look, side

the bright lights

exciting and attractive people and places in big cities I went in search of the bright lights, but all I found was poverty and loneliness.

See look on the bright side

See also: lights

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bright and early

very early in the morning You'll have to be at the airport bright and early to make that flight.

See also: and, early

the bright side also a bright side

the good parts or features of a mostly unpleasant situation There's a bright side to this – at least you can learn from your mistake.

Usage notes: often used in the form look on the bright side: They tried to look on the bright side when their flight was rerouted to another city.

See also: side