wit (redirected from have wits about)

a battle of wits

a situation in which two people or groups try to defeat each other by using their intelligence. It appears that the battle of wits between the two negotiating teams is set to continue for some time. (often + between)

See also: battle

frighten/scare someone out of their wits

to make someone very frightened. Don't shout like that - you scared me out of my wits!

See also: frighten, scare

gather your wits (literary)

to make an effort to become calm and think more clearly. Sitting down in one of the chairs I attempted to gather my wits and decide what I should do.

See also: gather

a half-wit (informal)

a stupid person. Some half-wit had filled the kettle too full and water spilt out everywhere.

See also: half-wit

have/keep your wits about you

to be ready to think quickly in a situation and react to things that you are not expecting. Cycling is potentially very dangerous in London - you really need to keep your wits about you.

See also: about, keep

live by/on your wits

to earn enough money to live by being clever or cheating people. A lot of these kids are thrown out onto the streets and they have to live by their wits.

See also: live

pit your wits against someone/something

to compete against someone or something using your intelligence. That's the pleasure of fishing - pitting your wits against these clever little fish that are trying desperately not to get caught.

See also: against, pit

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

something that you say which means that using sarcasm (= saying the opposite of what you mean to make a joke) is unpleasant and is not a very clever thing to do. 'We're so grateful to you for arriving only 20 minutes late!' 'Oh really, Matthew, don't you know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?'

See also: form, low

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frighten someone out of their wits

to cause extreme fear in someone. Don't sneak up behind me like that – you frightened me out of my wits!

See also: frighten

gather your wits

to make an effort to be calm and think. I was really scared, but I knew I had to gather my wits and try to figure out what to do.

See also: gather

have your wits about you

to be able to think clearly. The engines failed, but the pilot had his wits about him and managed to get them started again. She managed to keep her wits about her and was able to escape unharmed.

See also: about

live by your wits

to exist by taking advantage of any opportunity you have. Kids thrown on the streets with no family to support them have to live by their wits.

See also: live