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Synonyms

smart as a whip

Idioms  
  1. Very intelligent or clever, as in Little Brian is smart as a whip; he's only three and already learning to read. This simile alludes to the sharp crack of a whip. [Mid-1900s] Also see mind like a steel trap.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“She’s smart as a whip and she’s listening and trying to work on things that are pragmatic and having real impact on people in our community,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

“He’s smart as a whip, agile, super curious and an amazing broadcaster,” said news consultant Michael Clemente, Smith’s former boss at Fox News and a longtime ABC News executive.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2020

He’s smart as a whip and is already reading independently, but socially he’s just not there yet.

From Slate • Sep. 10, 2020

If Salt was its calm center, then Kidder was its wild child, hilariously witty and smart as a whip.

From The Guardian • May 14, 2018

Off the field he was quiet, serene, and smart as a whip, his passivity neatly hiding an astounding determination to succeed.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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