get a/the bright idea

To have a unique or shrewd thought. This phrase is often used in the negative or sarcastically to show the speaker's disapproval with a particular idea. If anyone miraculously gets a bright idea about how to handle this difficult client, please let me know ASAP. A: "Why is half of the room blue and the other half beige?" B: "Because I got the bright idea to paint it a few weeks ago and then got swamped with work." Of course his car is gone—he got the bright idea to park in a tow-away zone!