cleverclev‧er /ˈklevə $ -ər/ ●●● S2 adjective 
a clever manvery/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.► see thesaurus at intelligent2able to use your intelligence to get what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way: a clever lawyer’s tricks3especially British English skilful at doing a particular thing: Bill’s very clever with his hands. his clever ball controlclever at doing something He was clever at finding bargains.4done or made in an unusual or interesting way that is very effective: What a clever little gadget! a clever marketing strategy5 British English spoken used jokingly when someone has done something silly or stupid: ‘When I got to the library I found I’d left the books at home.’ ‘That was clever!’6clever clogs/dick British English spoken used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right7be too clever by half British English spoken to be clever, and to show that you are clever in a way that annoys other people—cleverly adverb—cleverness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINclever
Origin:
1200-1300 Probably from a Scandinavian languageEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a clever joke
- Ben Gurion was a cool, calculating and clever politician.
- Doug's always been clever at finding the best deals available.
- Gibson met a clever classmate who had built his own radio transmitter.
- I've thought of a really clever way of making money.
- In the story, the miller's daughter is a clever, beautiful girl.
- It is a clever device that can chop onions in seconds.
- It sounds like a clever idea. Do you think it'll work?
- My sister was always much cleverer than me at school.
- Tabloid reporters are very clever and persistent.
- That was very clever of you, How did you do that?
- They won the case by being clever and hiring influential lawyers to help them.
- Virtual Listening Systems have introduced one of the year's most unusual and clever new products.
- Actually, it's quite clever.
- From the start it was conceived as a clever commercial package rather than a deeply personal film.
- He can be really clever when he wants to be.
- If he didn't, some clever lawyer would get the boy off on a technicality.
- She was clever, and he thought she was a bit too serious, although she had a sense of humour.
- They are clever work, but they merely represent a harnessing of this quantum effect.
- What I like is how clever it is.
- Who would have thought the old man could be so clever?
THESAURUS
having a high level of mental ability, and good at thinking clearly and understanding ideas: · The top universities aim to select the most intelligent students.
especially British English, smart especially American English intelligent, so that you can think and learn quickly and find ways to solve problems: · That was very clever of you. How did you do that?· I wasn’t smart enough to be a lawyer.
intelligent – used especially about children and young people: · He’s a very bright kid.· the brightest student in the class
extremely intelligent and good at the work you do: · a brilliant scientist
a gifted child is much more intelligent than most other children: · a special school for gifted children
able to make good decisions and give sensible advice, especially because you have a lot of experience: · a wise old man
good at using your intelligence to get what you want, often by making secret plans or tricking people: · She was cunning enough to keep this latest piece of information secret.· He’s a crafty old devil!
informal intelligent and good at studying: · My sister is the brainy one in our family.
Longman Language Activatorto beat someone by using your intelligence to get an advantage over someone that you are fighting or competing against, by using clever tricks and planning rather than by force: · We can't fight them. We'll just have to try and outsmart them.· None of the thieves wanted to admit that they had been outwitted by a couple of teenagers.
also be too smart for especially American if you are too clever or too smart for someone, they have tried to trick you but you realized what they were doing and stopped them succeeding: · Molly tried to hide the presents but the children were too clever for her and found them within minutes.
a clever plan, idea, or way of doing something especially British a clever idea, plan, or way of doing something is good and works well: · It sounds like a clever idea. Do you think it'll work?· Virtual Listening Systems have introduced one of the year's most unusual and clever new products.· I've thought of a really clever way of making money.
an intelligent idea, question etc is thought of or asked by someone who is intelligent: · Have you got any intelligent suggestions to make?· Anne was surprised to hear such an intelligent question coming from a very small child.
an ingenious method, idea, or piece of equipment is cleverly designed to do a job or solve a problem in a very original way: · A scanner is an ingenious device which enables you to feed pictures, photos or documents into a computer system.· American scientists have come up with an ingenious way of getting rid of cockroaches.· The catalogue is full of ingenious ideas for transforming your house into a dream home.· In the end it was Pete who thought of a really ingenious solution to the problem.
an idea etc that is clever, simple, and effective: · One of our designers has come up with a neat idea for storing computer disks.· Taking up a sport is a neat way of meeting new people, and it's good for you too.· It's a complicated problem, and there's no neat solution.
a system or machine such as a computer that is smart is cleverly designed and does something effectively: · The new software system is really smart and it's much quicker to use too.
carefully planned, clever, and intended to deceive people: · They use all kinds of cunning tricks to make people give them money.· His leadership style was to maintain power through a combination of force and cunning strategy.· a cunning marketing ploy
a crafty plan or way of doing something etc is one that is cleverly planned and involves deceiving other people, in a way that people admire: · It was a crafty question. "Why are you trying to catch me out?" he replied.· Jerry and Tony had worked out a crafty way of avoiding paying tax.
an inspired idea, plan etc is extremely clever and impressive and is one that someone suddenly thinks of, without knowing how or why: · "How did you know the answer to that?" "I didn't, it was just an inspired guess."· Even the most inspired forecasts of how prices are going to move can't be right all the time.· The band represents some of the best young talent that's around, resulting in a sound that's both innovative and inspired.
a clever idea about how to do something: · I like it! It sounds like a really bright idea.· I don't know what kind of present she'd like -- if you have any bright ideas let me know.have/come up with the bright idea of doing something (=often used humorously): · George came up with the bright idea of visiting every pub we passed.
someone who is clever at dealing with people or situations especially British /smart especially American intelligent in a practical way, and able to use your intelligence to get advantages for yourself: · Ben Gurion was a cool, calculating and clever politician.· They won the case by being clever and hiring influential lawyers to help them.· She was smart and knew how to get men to give her whatever she wanted.clever at doing something: · Doug's always been clever at finding the best deals available.
a shrewd person is good at deciding what people, situations etc are really like, so that it is difficult to deceive them - use this especially about people who are successful in business: · As a manager, Watson is both shrewd and tough.· Are you a shrewd businessman, quick to see an opportunity or a bargain?· Sachs was a shrewd judge of character, and chose his staff well.
someone who is astute easily understands why people behave in a particular way, why a situation is happening etc, without anyone having to tell them: · Morgan was surprised at how astute she was. "How did you know that?" he asked.· The scale of the riots seemed to surprise even the most astute commentators.financially/politically etc astute: · The President's wife is often politically astute, ambitious and very influential in White House policy decisions.
someone who is canny is very clever, especially in business, so that it is difficult to deceive them and they are able to take advantage of other people: · Pete Chambers is a canny fellow. Not one to miss an opportunity.· She's far too canny to keep her money in this country. She's got it safely hidden away in Switzerland, I expect.
clever at finding ways to deal with problems or difficult situations, using whatever material, information etc that is available to you: · We can influence our children's development by encouraging them to be resourceful when they play.· Keen competition in the arts, crafts and trade made the Greeks an inventive and resourceful people.
someone who is streetwise has a lot of experience of life in big cities, so they know what to do in difficult or dangerous situations: · He seemed very streetwise for a kid who had just left school.· Zachar is a streetwise guy from New York, a gambler who grew up playing the horses at Belmont Park.
informal to be very difficult to trick or deceive because you have a lot of experience or knowledge of people: · Katherine could look after herself and she was nobody's fool when it came to money.
good at learning, thinking, and understanding ideas having a high level of natural mental ability, so that you are good at thinking, learning, and understanding ideas: · Mark was an intelligent, ambitious young man, with a great future in front of him.· Some scientists claim that dolphins are more intelligent than humans.highly intelligent: · "We're looking for highly intelligent young people, with a genuine interest in their subject," a university spokesman said.
especially British /smart especially American good at learning and understanding things quickly, and at thinking how to solve problems: · He's a smart kid who works hard and is focused on what he wants to do.· My sister was always much cleverer than me at school.it is clever/smart of somebody: · That was very clever of you, How did you do that?it is clever/smart of somebody to do something: · Dick's had a bad injury, and it's probably smart of him not to play sports for a while.
intelligent and likely to be successful - use this especially about children and young people: · Even as a small child, it was obvious that Bobby was very bright.· When I first met her she was a bright young lawyer fresh out of law school.best and brightest: · Companies want to prevent their best and brightest employees from being headhunted by rival organizations.
to be intelligent and able to think about things clearly, understand things quickly, and solve problems well: · Sean's teachers told him that he had a good mind and the ability to be an excellent student.
to be intelligent according to what you score on a special test: · Both the twins have a high IQ of around 150.· MENSA is an organization for people with high IQs.
a child who is gifted is much more intelligent and quicker at learning than most other children: · In the past, gifted children have not always been given appropriate educational support.· Bloomsury House is a special school for girls and boys who are exceptionally gifted.
informal very intelligent and especially good at studying: · At school Karen was always one of the brainy ones.· Why don't you ask Tom to help you with your homework -- he's incredibly brainy.
an annoying person who thinks they are clever also know-all British spoken someone who annoys you because they always think they know the correct answers, know a lot about something etc: · OK, if you're such a know-it-all, you try and do it, then.· I just wish he'd stop being such a know-all all the time.
informal someone, especially a young person, who annoys you because they say funny or intelligent things in a rude way: · Glover was different to the rest of us. The son of university people. A smart aleck.· Some smart aleck at the back of the room kept standing up and asking awkward questions.
American informal someone who annoys you because they make jokes or give answers in a rude but funny way: · OK, smart-ass! If I want an answer from you I'll ask for it.
British informal use this about someone who uses their intelligence in a way that annoys other people, and will probably get into trouble at some time in the future: · Phil's good at thinking up excuses for his behaviour - he's too clever by half.
not intelligent also not too bright/intelligent/clever/smart someone who is not very bright/intelligent/clever/smart is unable to learn and understand things quickly and easily: · Sometimes I think Sheila just isn't very bright.· Saja may be handsome, but he's not too smart.· Franco works hard but he isn't really very intelligent.· He treated me like a young and not very clever child.
not at all intelligent: · She talks to us as if we're completely stupid.· Poor Larry's too stupid to realize when you're making fun of him.· It's only stupid people who believe in all that astrology mumbo-jumbo.
especially American, spoken not at all intelligent: · The athletic guys were seen as 'cute but dumb'.· You're so dumb, Clarissa!· If we look dumb enough, someone's bound to come and help us out.
British informal not at all intelligent: · He's a nice boy, but he's a bit thick, isn't he?· Not wishing to appear thick, but what exactly are you doing?as thick as two short planks (=very stupid): · Some of the students they let in these days are as thick as two short planks.
informal unintelligent and very slow to learn: · She's not the brightest kid in the class -- in fact, she's quite dim.· I'm playing a guy who's well-meaning but kind of dim.
informal completely stupid: · My sister's latest boyfriend is pretty brainless; it's impossible to have a conversation with him.· 'You brainless scum!' he shouted after the departing boys.
British informal very stupid - use this especially to describe someone who looks stupid or who never has their own ideas: · He just sat there with his mouth open looking really gormless.· a grinning, gormless boy
formal not as intelligent as most people: · It would be a mistake to assume that all football players are unintelligent.· He may not be as bright as his sister, but he's far from unintelligent.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Lucy is quite clever and does well at school. (=made using a clever idea)· This clever little device rings to tell you where you left your keys.
· It seemed like a clever idea at the time.
· A clever lawyer may get a case against his client dropped because of a technicality.
· They devised a cunning plan to get back their money.· The gang devised a cunning plan to rob the bank.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· But like every other species, including the human, the bee is just as clever as it needs to be.· Short answer: The inside is as clever as the outside.· Most missiles with pretensions to cleverness are brighter than a laser-guided bomb, but not as clever as a Tomahawk.· Now it's time for the kill, and the final twists are as clever as they are gripping.· And as ruthless, and as clever.
· Coleridge had developed an apparently relaxed, but in fact extremely clever style of blank verse.· He was outrageously affected, flamboyantly homosexual, and extremely clever.· No drugs were found on Guiding Lights but two extremely clever concealments were uncovered.· Antony here is extremely clever and manipulative.· She knew people with mental disorders could often be extremely clever at concealing them.
· If he won't go much higher up the ramp, we tell him how clever he is and take him away.· You have no idea how clever he is.· She drank and smiled. How clever of Charles to simplify the whole thing to its basics.· What I like is how clever it is.· You see how clever Stapleton was.· Sometimes we just don't think about how clever we really are.· Then she thought, How clever of Felix to say that he was a friend of my parents.· We come to believe that good writing shows how clever we are.
· Besides, the newspapers wrote about politics in a more clever, sharper and faster way.· I was just going to have to be more clever, more methodical in the way I went about it.· You think you're better than I am in just about every way, more beautiful, more clever, more experienced.· People who can present themselves well appear more clever, poised and promotable.· Lilly had not been more beautiful than the other women who sought him, just more clever.· Climbing in the rain makes you feel a lot more clever than it should rationally justify.
· But these are pretty clever boxes.
· Actually, it's quite clever.· No, no one in my country was quite clever enough to program intelligent agents.· He was quite clever, Dad, in his way, but he had never had an education.· The thing he's very good at is opening bottles and he's quite clever at other things, too.· Well the rhyme was quite clever, but somehow it didn't have the prize-winning ring to it.· I have had to start hiding my money, but he is quite clever at finding it.
· Wheat skimming is rather cleverer than potato washing.
· I don't know when I've heard anything quite so clever!· But Cara is so clever and she works so hard.· It was so clever, his way of catching fish!· She was so clever to have thought of it.· Who would have thought the old man could be so clever?· Those claims no longer look so clever.· We have become so clever: it has become so easy.· You think you're so clever!
· You might be just a wee bit too clever for your own good now.· But Blier is a little too clever, a little too wink-wink for his own good.· Emma: Too clever by half, Or so the critics said, week in, week out.· Oh no, Eloise Skipton was too clever for that.· But Black is too clever for that and has gone into hiding, waiting for the pressure to ease up.· According to her, he was too clever for his own good.
· However, for some one supposed to be very clever, he seemed to get a great deal of pleasure out of ordinary things.· The child psychologists have gotten very clever.· But he was a very clever, interesting man.· If they go in and it turns out not to be very clever, the referendum covers their backs.· Either that or it's some one very clever.· I assured her that I was laughing because I was happy to be with them and because the story-teller was very clever.· I respect George for doing this, and find it very clever for him.
NOUN· It is the stuff of ivory towers and only clever boys and girls are expected to reflect upon its themes.· Molassi had listened to the conversation between the clever boy and the pretty lady.· A clever boy, that, and was always Heuil's shadow.· But Tony was not a clever boy.· Like when he'd killed the clever boy, who had blasphemed the headster time.
· A clever girl, though, Miss Morgan, an Exhibitioner like Francesca and a respectable second-class degree.· She's a good, clever girl.· The cleverest girls always knew the answer of course.· She was a clever girl, to realise that there would never be another train in this station.
· He had none of Monks' clever ideas.· I can not remember half of the astonishingly clever ideas which they were working on.· That too seemed quite natural, but it was a clever idea all the same.· But clever ideas do not always translate into clever investments.Take the first-quarter results.· None the less, many physicists agree that the new antenna is a simple, yet particularly clever idea.· Readers' original gardening tips Has your clever idea won a £50 cash prize this month?· Feedback is a very clever idea.
· The Earl of Bothwell - a strong, clever man.· The abbot was a clever man.· But he was a clever man, this burglar, and two prizes presented themselves for him today.· He was a good strong, clever man, and he worked hard.· He was a clever man and he wrote clever plays, but people still liked Will's plays best.· Waiters made him feel a fool, this clever man.
· They believe that creative thought is only for clever people.· There are also clever people who design and supply ready printed cards for their own patterns.· These positions are usually filled by clever people, allowing both boys and girls to draw wrongful conclusions.· Who to buy it for: clever people 7.· Do not despise clever people, Mr Wormwood.· Competition between very clever people to be first with the best answers yields the progress on which technological improvement depends.· They are wonderfully clever people, of that there is little doubt, but wisdom seems to be in frighteningly short supply.· Well madam, I don't like clever people!
· You can do clever tricks too.· It was a clever trick to give him time to choose his words.· Both play a very clever trick which will answer the prayers of video users all round the world.
· By clever use of the medium and washes, all sorts of possibilities open up.· At Griffith Park in 1939, Jimmy Demaret helped his cause in the third round by clever use of his wedge.· This effect was created by the clever use of a pink filter.· Much valuable data can be recovered by clever use of the flash answer.· As in any mathematics teaching, clever use of questions can nudge people along.· The union leaders appear to be building public support for their cause, with clever use of symbolic gestures and public relations.
· A clever way of stifling discussion and few could have done it so well.· The accountants who continued to divine clever ways of justifying this structure?· There is, however, a clever way in which matters otherwise irrelevant may be lightly introduced.· The Dialogue Group was simply looking for a clever way to intimidate Ray.· Doing the splits Others think they may have found a clever way out of their troubles: breaking themselves up.· And they do so in a clever way.· Of course, I might have known that you'd have some clever way of dealing with everything, though.
· He could imagine the two clever women, and the delicate fencing.· But, for heaven's sake, Laura, you're a clever woman.· I appreciate you're a very clever woman, but then I never took you for a fool.· She was both a clever woman and a fool at one and the same time.· She is a clever woman, Madame Leonie.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► that’s a good girl/that’s a clever dog etc► there’s a good boy/clever dog etc
1especially British English able to learn and understand things quickly SYN intelligent, smart American English: - I don't claim to be an expert and I certainly don't consider myself a clever clogs.
- Next time just stay at home and switch on the telly, clever clogs.
- Phil's good at thinking up excuses for his behaviour - he's too clever by half.
- The arithmetic can not be faulted - and may well be judged too clever by half.
- According to her, he was too clever for his own good.
- That Tom was too nice for his own good.
- They were both too nice for their own good.
- You might be just a wee bit too clever for your own good now.
a clever manvery/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.► see thesaurus at intelligent2able to use your intelligence to get what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way: a clever lawyer’s tricks3especially British English skilful at doing a particular thing: Bill’s very clever with his hands. his clever ball controlclever at doing something He was clever at finding bargains.4done or made in an unusual or interesting way that is very effective: What a clever little gadget! a clever marketing strategy5 British English spoken used jokingly when someone has done something silly or stupid: ‘When I got to the library I found I’d left the books at home.’ ‘That was clever!’6clever clogs/dick British English spoken used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right7be too clever by half British English spoken to be clever, and to show that you are clever in a way that annoys other people—cleverly adverb—cleverness noun [uncountable]