wit
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++wit /wɪt/ ●○○ noun 1 amusing 娱人的 [uncountable]FUNNY the ability to say things that are clever and amusing 〔说话的〕机智风趣 a woman of great wit and charm 说话风趣、风韵动人的女人quick/dry/sharp etc wit His sharp wit had them all smiling. 他的机智诙谐让他们一个个都露出了笑脸。2. amusing person 说话风趣的人 [countable]FUNNY someone who is able to say clever and amusing things 说话风趣的人3 wits [plural]INTELLIGENT your ability to think quickly and make the right decisions 机智；颖悟力 Alone and penniless, I was forced to live on my wits. 孤身一人又身无分文，我只得靠我的机智来过活。keep/have your wits about you (=be ready to think quickly and do what is necessary in a difficult situation) 有灵活的头脑，随机应变4 frighten/scare/terrify somebody out of their wits informalFRIGHTENED to frighten someone very much 吓坏某人 I was terrified out of my wits at the very idea. 就这个念头把我吓坏了。5 gather/collect/recover etc your wits to make yourself think about what you are going to do next after you have been surprised by something 〔受到惊吓后〕恢复理智，冷静下来 I felt helpless, but tried to gather my wits. 我感到无助，但尽量让自己冷静下来。6. pit your wits against somebody to compete against someone in a test of knowledge or intelligence 和某人斗智7. be at your wits’ end WORRIEDto be very upset and not know what to do, because you have tried everything possible to solve a problem 智穷计尽，束手无策8 have the wit to do something formalINTELLIGENT to be clever enough to know the right thing to do 足够明智，作出正确决定做某事 Thankfully, Reid had the wit to see what was wrong with the plan. 幸好雷德聪明地看出了这个计划的问题所在。9 not be beyond the wit of somebody formalEASY not be too difficult for someone to do 对某人来说不难 It’s surely not beyond the wit of man to come up with a solution. 人类要想个解决办法肯定是不难的。10 to wit old use or formalDETAIL used to introduce additional information which makes it clear exactly who or what you are talking about 即，就是 SYN namely This does not stop me giving you a little treat. To wit, an invitation to dine at Brown’s. 即使这样，我也还是要小小地款待你一下，也就是说，请你到布朗餐厅吃饭。 → battle of wits at battle1(5), → half-wit, → live by your wits at live1(15), → outwit, quick-witted, witty
Examples from the Corpus
wit• Rochester was well known as a wit in society circles.• But then Farah did everything with style and wit courtesy.• A dozen writers and wits used to gather at the Algonquin Hotel for lunch.• Oscar Wilde was a famous wit.• People love him for his wit and charm.• He remained still and tried to gather his wits.• He did not hide his opinions in wit as Franklin or in fuzziness as Washington had.• He seemed to have everything you could want in a man -- intelligence, wit, good looks and charm.• His limpid style and flashes of wit overcame Labour heckling, tickled the press and brought a smile to jaded Tory backbenchers.• She was totally guileless, honest, with a mordant sense of humour and sardonic wit.• People especially like to pat foals, and unfortunately usually on their face or head, which scares the wits out of them.• The wit and irony of the original novel has been lost in the film version.quick/dry/sharp etc wit• Revealing his conclusion would spoil the fun because Hitt tells his story with a deft touch and a sharp wit.• He was a dour Yankee, tall, confident, elegant, with a dry wit and aristocratic tastes.• He was a brilliant improviser with a dry wit and a masterly sense of timing.• Mr Andreotti has been cleared in two trials, and is now a chat show regular with a dry wit.• Shabba's dominance of reggae is due to his unique voice, strong personal style and quick wit.• He quickly built up a reputation for his dry wit.• Sylvie, tempered with Mathilde's quick wits and humour.• Ice creams and lollies seem to benefit from the sharp wit of its frosting.Origin wit Old English “knowledge, intelligence”wit nounChinese
ability the say things that to are Corpus
wit
wit /wɪt/
noun
a woman of great wit and charm
quick/dry/sharp etc wit
His sharp wit had them all smiling.
2. AMUSING PERSON [countable] someone who is able to say clever and amusing things
3. wits [plural] your ability to think quickly and make the right decisions:
Alone and penniless, I was forced to live on my wits.
keep/have your wits about you (=be ready to think quickly and do what is necessary in a difficult situation)
4. frighten/scare/terrify somebody out of their wits informal to frighten someone very much:
I was terrified out of my wits at the very idea.
5. gather/collect/recover etc your wits to make yourself think about what you are going to do next after you have been surprised by something:
I felt helpless, but tried to gather my wits.
6. pit your wits against somebody to compete against someone in a test of knowledge or intelligence
7. be at your wits’ end to be very upset and not know what to do, because you have tried everything possible to solve a problem
8. have the wit to do something formal to be clever enough to know the right thing to do:
Thankfully, Reid had the wit to see what was wrong with the plan.
9. not be beyond the wit of somebody formal not be too difficult for someone to do:
It’s surely not beyond the wit of man to come up with a solution.
10. to wit old use formal used to introduce additional information which makes it clear exactly who or what you are talking about
SYN namely:
This does not stop me giving you a little treat. To wit, an invitation to dine at Brown’s.
⇨ battle of wits at battle1(5), ⇨ half-wit, ⇨ live by your wits at live1(15), ⇨ outwit, quick-witted, witty
wit /wɪt/
noun Language: Old English
Origin: 'knowledge, intelligence'
1. AMUSING [uncountable] the ability to say things that are clever and amusing:Origin: 'knowledge, intelligence'
quick/dry/sharp etc wit
2. AMUSING PERSON [countable] someone who is able to say clever and amusing things
3. wits [plural] your ability to think quickly and make the right decisions:
keep/have your wits about you (=be ready to think quickly and do what is necessary in a difficult situation)
4. frighten/scare/terrify somebody out of their wits informal to frighten someone very much:
5. gather/collect/recover etc your wits to make yourself think about what you are going to do next after you have been surprised by something:
6. pit your wits against somebody to compete against someone in a test of knowledge or intelligence
7. be at your wits’ end to be very upset and not know what to do, because you have tried everything possible to solve a problem
8. have the wit to do something formal to be clever enough to know the right thing to do:
9. not be beyond the wit of somebody formal not be too difficult for someone to do:
10. to wit old use formal used to introduce additional information which makes it clear exactly who or what you are talking about
SYN namely:
⇨ battle of wits at battle1(5), ⇨ half-wit, ⇨ live by your wits at live1(15), ⇨ outwit, quick-witted, witty
