cunning

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++cun·ning1 /ˈkʌnɪŋ/ ●●○ adjective  1  INTELLIGENTsomeone who is cunning is clever and good at deceiving people in order to get what they want 〔人〕狡猾的，狡诈的 SYN crafty a cunning opponent 狡猾的对手► see thesaurus at intelligent2  UNFAIRbehaviour or actions that are cunning are clever but dishonest and unfair, and are used to get what you want 〔行为或动作〕狡诈的，狡猾的 a cunning plan 狡诈的计划3  UNUSUALa cunning object or piece of equipment is clever and unusual 〔物体或设备〕巧妙的，不同寻常的 a cunning little device for keeping out draughts 挡风用的巧妙小装置4  BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING American English old-fashioned attractive 可爱的，吸引人的 a cunning little dress 小巧可爱的连衣裙 —cunningly adverb

Examples from the Corpus

cunning• The book talks, and is very cunning.• But the wicked creature was very cunning, and she finally thought of a trick that would give her what she wanted.• The coach quickly came up with a cunning counterattack.• Hawkeye was very cunning - he always waited until his enemy was alone and unarmed before making his attack.• She's a cunning little devil! She left for school as usual, and then went into town instead with her friends.• a cunning marketing ploy• a cunning model of the world• It was only the latest chapter in the book on the dangerous, amoral, but cunning place called Arkansas.• And it seems that nothing, not even one of Baldrick's cunning plans, can save them.• There was a small black sofa with cunning red and blue cushions on it.• His leadership style was to maintain power through a combination of force and cunning strategy.• She brought about the death of Pelias by a cunning trick.• They use all kinds of cunning tricks to make people give them money.• The brightest are wasted: the cunning triumph: the robber barons are back.• Diane was a cold and cunning woman who preyed upon lonely teenagers.cunning2 noun [uncountable]  INTELLIGENTthe ability to achieve what you want by deceiving people in a clever way 狡猾，狡诈 the tiger’s ferocity and cunning 老虎的凶猛和狡诈 She would use low cunning (=unpleasant dishonest methods) to win people’s sympathy. 她会耍卑鄙的花招来博得别人的同情。

Examples from the Corpus

cunning• And a cunning of its own.• Perhaps one could justify riches as the reward for the skill, diligence, foresight and cunning of the original creator.• And there's his diabolical cunning about the newspapers and radio and so on.• This process shows great cunning on the part of Nature, also a good deal of cleverness on the part of George.• Time and again the new Phoenix King proved his cunning as a general.• Organizing a political party, even a small and stupid one, must take at least a degree of native cunning.• The few people that escaped the crazed gunman did so by quick cunning, courage, and luck.• The archetypal survivor is the trickster, and his strategy is wily cunning.Origin cunning1 (1200-1300) Present participle of cun “to know”, an early form of can; → CAN1

cun·ning1 adjectivecunning2 nounChineseSyllable  

at people and cunning is clever deceiving Corpus who someone good is

cunning

I

cun‧ning¹ /ˈkʌnɪŋ/ adjective1. someone who is cunning is clever and good at deceiving people in order to get what they want
   SYN  crafty:
    a cunning opponent
2. behaviour or actions that are cunning are clever but dishonest and unfair, and are used to get what you want:
    a cunning plan
3. a cunning object or piece of equipment is clever and unusual:
    a cunning little device for keeping out draughts
4. American English old-fashioned attractive:
    a cunning little dress
—cunningly adverb
     

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.

II

cunning² noun [uncountable]
the ability to achieve what you want by deceiving people in a clever way:
    the tiger’s ferocity and cunning
    She would use low cunning (=unpleasant dishonest methods) to win people’s sympathy.