clever

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++clev·er /ˈklevə $ -ər/ S2 adjective 1 especially British EnglishINTELLIGENT able to learn and understand things quickly 聪明的，聪颖的 SYN intelligent, American English smart a clever man 聪明的人very/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever Lucy is quite clever and does well at school. 露西很聪明，学习成绩很好。► see thesaurus at intelligent2 INTELLIGENTable to use your intelligence to get what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way 耍小聪明的，滑头的 a clever lawyer’s tricks 滑头律师的诡计3 especially British EnglishGOOD AT skilful at doing a particular thing 灵巧的，伶俐的；熟练的 Bill’s very clever with his hands. 比尔双手很灵巧。 his clever ball control 他精妙的控球clever at doing something He was clever at finding bargains. 他很会淘便宜货。4 EFFECTIVEdone or made in an unusual or interesting way that is very effective 机敏的；巧妙的 What a clever little gadget! 多么巧妙的小玩意！ a clever marketing strategy 巧妙的营销策略5 STUPID/NOT SENSIBLE British English spoken used jokingly when someone has done something silly or stupid 真聪明！〔某人干了蠢事时说的玩笑话〕 ‘When I got to the library I found I’d left the books at home.’ ‘That was clever!’ “到了图书馆我才发现把书忘在家里了。”“你真行啊！”6. clever clogs/dick INTELLIGENT British English spoken used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right 自以为聪明的人7. be too clever by half INTELLIGENT British English spoken to be clever, and to show that you are clever in a way that annoys other people 精明过头 —cleverly adverb —cleverness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

clever• Actually, it's quite clever.• Who would have thought the old man could be so clever?• She was clever, and he thought she was a bit too serious, although she had a sense of humour.• They won the case by being clever and hiring influential lawyers to help them.• Tabloid reporters are very clever and persistent.• Doug's always been clever at finding the best deals available.• In the story, the miller's daughter is a clever, beautiful girl.• Gibson met a clever classmate who had built his own radio transmitter.• From the start it was conceived as a clever commercial package rather than a deeply personal film.• It is a clever device that can chop onions in seconds.• It sounds like a clever idea. Do you think it'll work?• What I like is how clever it is.• a clever joke• If he didn't, some clever lawyer would get the boy off on a technicality.• Virtual Listening Systems have introduced one of the year's most unusual and clever new products.• That was very clever of you, How did you do that?• Ben Gurion was a cool, calculating and clever politician.• My sister was always much cleverer than me at school.• I've thought of a really clever way of making money.• He can be really clever when he wants to be.• They are clever work, but they merely represent a harnessing of this quantum effect.very/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever• However, for some one supposed to be very clever, he seemed to get a great deal of pleasure out of ordinary things.• Feedback is a very clever idea.• Meredith, you're either very clever, or unbelievably naïve.• It was all very clever, really, because all the wedding presents had just more or less run out.• It really was a very clever thing indeed.• Both play a very clever trick which will answer the prayers of video users all round the world.• How right you are, very clever, very ... disputatious.Origin clever (1200-1300) Probably from a Scandinavian language

clev·er adjectiveChineseSyllable

understand things and learn quickly Corpus able to

clever
clev‧er S2 /ˈklevə $ -ər/

adjective

Date: 1200-1300
Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language

1. especially British English able to learn and understand things quickly
SYN intelligent, smart American English:

a clever man
very/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever

Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.
2. able to use your intelligence to get what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way:

a clever lawyer’s tricks
3. especially British English skilful at doing a particular thing:

Bill’s very clever with his hands.

his clever ball control
clever at doing something

He was clever at finding bargains.
4. done or made in an unusual or interesting way that is very effective:

What a clever little gadget__

a clever marketing strategy
5. 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!’
6. clever clogs/dick British English spoken used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right
7. be 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]

THESAURUS

   ▪ intelligent 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.
   ▪ clever 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.
   ▪ bright intelligent – used especially about children and young people: He’s a very bright kid. | the brightest student in the class
   ▪ brilliant extremely intelligent and good at the work you do: a brilliant scientist
   ▪ gifted a gifted child is much more intelligent than most other children: a special school for gifted children
   ▪ wise able to make good decisions and give sensible advice, especially because you have a lot of experience: a wise old man
   ▪ cunning/crafty 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!
   ▪ brainy informal intelligent and good at studying: My sister is the brainy one in our family.

🔑 clever

BrE

/ˈklevə(r)/

🔊

NAmE

/ˈklevər/

🔊

adjective

(

clever·er

clever·est

)

HELP You can also use more clever and most clever. 亦可用 more clever 和 most clever。

🔑

(

especially BrE

)

quick at learning and understanding things 聪明的；聪颖的

SYN

intelligent

◆a clever child聪明伶俐的孩子

◆Clever girl! 多么聪慧的女孩！

🔊

◆How clever of you to work it out! 你解决了这个问题真是太聪明了！

🔊

◆He's too clever by half, if you ask me (= it annoys me or makes me suspicious). 恕我直言，他未免聪明过头了。

🔊

<titled tranID="23" status="1">intelligent</titled>smart ◇ clever ◇ brilliant ◇ bright

These words all describe people who are good at learning, understanding and thinking about things, and the actions that show this ability. 以上各词均形容人有才智、悟性强、聪明。

intelligent good at learning, understanding and thinking in a logical way about things; showing this ability 指有才智的、悟性强的、聪明的：◆He's a highly intelligent man. 他是一个很有才智的人。◆She asked a lot of intelligent questions. 她问了许多机智的问题。
smart (especially NAmE) quick at learning and understanding things; showing the ability to make good business or personal decisions 指聪明的、机敏的、精明的：◆She's smarter than her brother. 她比她哥哥聪明。◆That was a smart career move. 那是个人事业发展上的明智之举。
clever (sometimes disapproving, especially BrE) quick at learning and understanding things; showing this ability 指聪明的、聪颖的：◆How clever of you to work it out! 你解决了这个问题真是太聪明了。◆He's too clever by half, if you ask me. 恕我直言，他未免聪明过头了。 NOTE People use clever in the phrase Clever boy/girl! to tell a young child that they have learnt or done sth well. When used to or about an adult clever can be disapproving. * clever 用于短语 Clever boy/girl!（多么聪颖的男孩／女孩！）表示孩子学习悟性强、做事聪明伶俐。clever 用于成年人可能含贬义。
brilliant extremely intelligent or skilful 指聪颖的、技艺高的：◆He's a brilliant young scientist. 他是一个才华横溢的青年科学家。
bright intelligent; quick to learn 指聪明的、悟性强的：◆She's probably the brightest student in the class. 她大概是班里最聪明的学生。 NOTE Bright is used especially to talk about young people. Common collocations of bright include girl, boy, kid, student, pupil. * bright 主要用于年轻人，常与之搭配的词有 girl、boy、kid、student、pupil 等。