smarts
smarts — noun
1. the ability to think, learn quickly, and make good judgments in everyday situati
the ability to think, learn quickly, and make good judgments in everyday situations; practical cleverness rather than formal education
Farida has the smarts to solve problems that stump the rest of the team.
have the smarts to + verb
You need street smarts to stay safe when walking home at night alone.
collocation: street smarts
Kwame's business smarts turned a tiny market stall into a chain of shops.
Lin grew her smarts by helping in her uncle's repair shop every Saturday after school.
Priya showed real smarts when she read the room and changed her presentation halfway through.
- intelligence
more formal; covers both academic and practical ability
- cleverness
emphasises quick thinking and creative solutions
- shrewdness
suggests sharp judgment about people and situations, often in business
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('smarts'). Often used in compounds like 'street smarts' or 'business smarts' to name a specific kind of practical know-how. Distinguish from adjective sense 1: the noun describes applied cleverness, not raw mental ability.
常見錯誤
2. a sharp, sudden feeling of pain on the skin, like the sting from a cut, burn, or
a sharp, sudden feeling of pain on the skin, like the sting from a cut, burn, or hard slap
Dimitri felt the smart of the antiseptic as the nurse cleaned the cut on his knee.
the smart of + [cause of pain]
The smart of the cold wind on her cheeks made Sana pull her scarf tighter.
Tendai winced at the smart of lemon juice hitting the paper cut on his thumb.
A bee sting leaves a sharp smart that fades into a dull ache after an hour.
用法筆記
Used in the singular with 'the': 'the smart of something'. This sense is rarer in everyday speech; the verb form (verb sense 1) is more common for describing the same sensation.
smarts — adjective
1. quick to learn, understand, and figure things out; having a sharp and capable mi
quick to learn, understand, and figure things out; having a sharp and capable mind
Yara is the smart kid in class who always has her hand up with the answer.
Ravi's smart question about the contract clause saved his team from a costly mistake a week later.
smart + noun: smart question, smart decision
The new receptionist impressed everyone — she was smart, warm, and picked things up fast.
Oluwaseun's dog is so smart it can open the back door by itself when it wants to go out.
It was a smart decision to bring an umbrella; the sky opened up ten minutes later.
- intelligent
more formal; often used for academic or analytical ability
- bright
similar to 'smart' but slightly more informal and warm in tone
- clever
emphasises quick, inventive thinking more than deep knowledge
用法筆記
This is the most common sense. When describing a person, 'smart' can refer to natural intelligence or good judgment. When describing a thing (decision, move, idea), it means sensible and well thought out. Distinguish from noun sense 1: the adjective describes a quality; the noun describes the ability itself.
常見錯誤
2. good at making quick, funny, and clever remarks; sharp with words in an entertai
good at making quick, funny, and clever remarks; sharp with words in an entertaining way
Hassan's smart comebacks always get a laugh, even when he is not trying to be funny.
smart + comeback / remark / retort
The smart dialogue in the courtroom scene had the whole cinema laughing out loud.
Ingrid gave a smart reply to the rude customer that left everyone else in the shop smiling.
João is too smart for his own good sometimes — his jokes sail right over people's heads.
- witty
the closest synonym; emphasises verbal cleverness and humour
- quick-witted
highlights speed of response rather than the humour itself
- dull
boring or slow in conversation
用法筆記
Usually describes speech or writing (a smart remark, smart dialogue), not a permanent personality trait. Someone can make a smart comment without being 'smart' in sense 1. Distinguish from sense 3: witty remarks entertain; impudent remarks challenge authority.
常見錯誤
3. talking or behaving in a bold and disrespectful manner, especially towards a par
talking or behaving in a bold and disrespectful manner, especially towards a parent, teacher, or boss — as if trying to show you are cleverer than them
When Tomas told his grandmother to mind her own business, she called him a smart boy.
smart + person (negative: disrespectful)
Don't get smart with the police officer — just answer the question politely and move on.
get smart with + [person]
Mei-Lin sent her father a smart text that she regretted the moment she pressed send.
The waiter gave the manager a smart look and walked off, leaving the table uncleared.
- respectful
shows proper regard for someone's position or age
用法筆記
Usually negative and disapproving. Common in the phrases 'don't get smart with me' and 'smart mouth'. Distinguish from sense 2: a witty remark is meant to entertain; an impudent remark challenges or disrespects someone.
常見錯誤
4. looking clean, neat, and well put together; dressed or designed in an attractive
looking clean, neat, and well put together; dressed or designed in an attractive and tidy way
Naledi wore a smart navy suit to the interview, and she got the job the same week.
smart + [clothing item]: suit, dress, jacket
The restaurant had a smart look inside, with soft lighting and white tablecloths on every table.
The hotel's new lobby is so smart that guests take photos of it for their travel blog posts.
You look very smart in that jacket — is it new, or have you just never worn it before?
The café on the corner has had a smart makeover and now draws a crowd every weekend morning.
- scruffy
untidy and poorly dressed
用法筆記
Common in British English. In American English, 'sharp' or 'sharp-looking' is more common for this meaning. Often used for clothes, appearance, and interior design. Distinguish from sense 1: 'a smart person' means intelligent; 'a smart suit' means stylish.
常見錯誤
5. fitted with a tiny computer or electronic control system that lets the device op
fitted with a tiny computer or electronic control system that lets the device operate, adjust, or communicate on its own
Nia bought a smart thermostat that learns her routine and lowers the heat when she leaves.
smart + device: thermostat, phone, watch, speaker
Mia's smart lights dim automatically when she starts a film on her tablet.
smart + device: lights, thermostat, speaker
Their new office building uses smart glass that darkens automatically when the sun gets too bright.
The smart fridge sent Chidi a message on his phone telling him the milk was about to go sour.
City planners are testing smart traffic lights that change timing based on how many cars are waiting.
- computerised
emphasises the presence of a computer chip
- automated
focuses on the device working without human input
- intelligent
used similarly for technology but less common; 'intelligent oven' vs 'smart oven'
用法筆記
This sense is almost always attributive (before a noun): 'a smart device', not 'the device is smart'. In modern use, 'smart' in this sense most often appears in product names: smartphone, smart TV, smart home.
常見錯誤
6. done with speed and energy; quick, lively, or forceful in movement or action
done with speed and energy; quick, lively, or forceful in movement or action
The hikers set off at a smart pace and reached the hilltop in under half an hour.
at a smart pace
A smart breeze blew in from the sea, flapping the café umbrellas and scattering napkins across the sand.
smart + breeze / wind / gust
The old carpenter gave the stuck drawer a smart tap with his hammer, and it finally slid open.
The porter set off at a smart walk toward platform nine, the luggage cart rattling behind him.
- sluggish
slow and lacking in energy
用法筆記
Attributive only (before a noun). Common with nouns of movement (pace, walk, trot), wind (breeze, gust), and force (blow, tap). This sense is somewhat literary; in everyday speech, 'brisk' or 'quick' is more common.
7. causing a quick, sharp, stinging feeling on the skin; harsh and painful in effec
causing a quick, sharp, stinging feeling on the skin; harsh and painful in effect
A smart slap across the face left Amina's cheek red and burning for a full ten minutes afterwards.
smart + slap / blow / smack
The smart sting of iodine on the graze made Kofi squeeze his eyes shut and hiss through his teeth.
Rubbing alcohol on the fresh tattoo gave it a smart burn that passed after a few seconds.
A smart crack from the whip made the horses pick up speed, though it never actually touched them.
用法筆記
Attributive only. Always describes a physical sensation — a strike, sting, or burn. This sense is distinct from sense 6 (brisk) which describes speed and energy. Compare with verb sense 1: 'the cut smarts' (verb) vs 'a smart pain' (adjective).
smarts — verb
1. to feel or produce a sharp, burning hurt on the surface of the skin — the kind y
to feel or produce a sharp, burning hurt on the surface of the skin — the kind you get from a fresh cut, a hard slap, or cold wind on exposed skin
The paper cut on Zola's finger smarted every time she dipped her hands into the dishwater.
[body part] + smarted
His eyes smarted from the smoke pouring out of the kitchen after the toast caught fire.
[body part] + smarted from + [cause]
The cold rain smarted against Emeka's bare arms as he ran from the car to the front door.
Antiseptic wipes clean the wound well, but they smart like crazy when they first touch raw skin.
Hana's cheeks smarted for an hour after she came in from the bitter January wind on the walk home.
文法句型
[body part] + smart
[cause] + smart + [person]
用法筆記
Nearly always intransitive: the body part does the smarting ('my eyes smarted'). The transitive use is rare and literary ('the blow smarted him'). Often followed by 'from' + cause. Describes surface-level, short-lived pain — not deep or long-lasting ache.
常見錯誤
2. to feel a deep, lingering hurt in your heart or pride — not a quick sting but a
to feel a deep, lingering hurt in your heart or pride — not a quick sting but a wound that stays with you after an insult, a loss, or an unfair attack
Pavel smarted from the criticism for weeks; he had poured months of work into that design proposal.
smart from + [emotional cause]
Ten years later, the singer still smarted over the review that called his first record unlistenable rubbish.
smart over + [insult / criticism]
Lian smarted under her brother-in-law's constant snide remarks at every single family dinner she attended.
The team smarted at being left out of the final round after winning every match in the group stage before it.
文法句型
smart from + [insult/criticism/loss]
smart under + [treatment/attack]
用法筆記
Always intransitive. The pain is emotional — wounded pride, embarrassment, or resentment — not physical. Usually followed by a preposition: 'smart from' (the cause), 'smart under' (ongoing treatment), 'smart over' (a specific event). Often used in literary or formal writing; rare in casual speech.
常見錯誤
3. to pay a heavy price or face painful consequences for something foolish or wrong
to pay a heavy price or face painful consequences for something foolish or wrong you did earlier
The café owner smarted for months after the bad review went viral and bookings dried up overnight.
smart for + [duration]
Rafael cheated on the exam and smarted for it when the university expelled him a month before finals.
smart for + [action / pronoun]
Councillor Hayes smarted at the local election count when she saw her name at the bottom of the results sheet.
Leo smarted for skipping his final exam when the university rescinded his scholarship two days later.
文法句型
smart for + [mistake / action]
用法筆記
Always intransitive, nearly always followed by 'for' + the mistake or its consequence. The subject is usually a person, company, or group who suffers. This sense appears most often in journalism and narrative prose. In everyday speech, 'pay for' or 'suffer for' is more natural.
常見錯誤
smarts — adverb
1. in a neat, stylish, or brisk manner — covering the adverbial form of the main ad
in a neat, stylish, or brisk manner — covering the adverbial form of the main adjective meanings
The soldiers stood smart to attention the moment the general walked into the parade ground.
stand smart / stand smartly
Kaito dressed smart for the wedding, in a three-piece suit that his grandmother had made for him by hand.
dress smart / dress smartly
The old clock on the mantelpiece still ticks along as smart as the day it was made, a hundred and twenty years ago.
- smartly
the standard adverb form; always safe to use instead of adverbial 'smart'
用法筆記
Rare. In nearly all contexts, 'smartly' is preferred: 'dress smartly', 'stand smartly'. 'Smart' as an adverb survives mostly in fixed expressions like 'stand smart' (military) or in regional and dialectal use. Learners should default to 'smartly'.