have (or keep) (one's) wits about (one) To remain alert or calm, especially in a crisis. verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." If Jane hadn't kept her wits about her during the fire, things would have been much worse. Live by one's wits definition is - to survive by doing clever and sometimes dishonest things. Keep one's wits about one definition: to remain mentally alert ; function with undiminished acumen , as in an emergency | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/keep+my+wits+about+me. KIT-CAT CLUB, a club of Whig wits, painters, politicians and men of letters, founded in London about 1703. I could hardly keep my wits about me. wits definition: practical intelligence or understanding: . How to use wit in a sentence. Travellers need to keep their wits about them. keep your wits about you, have your wits about you v expr verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads … 12. Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017. Want to … Remain alert or calm, especially in a crisis. at (one's) wits' end At the limit of one's mental resources; utterly at a loss. (sometimes singular) the ability to reason and act, esp quickly (esp in the phrase have one's wits about one) 2. keep one's wits about (one) Fig. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Look it up now! https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/keep+wits+about. 3) Things can get mighty tense at sea, keep your wits about you. (be alert) mantenerse alerta loc verb. Mountaineering is dangerous, so you need to keep your wits about you. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. have/keep (all) yourwits about you. Wit definition is - the ability to relate seemingly disparate things so as to illuminate or amuse. to keep your wits about you - Examples:. “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; And then, it's up to my wits to keep me alive. (be alert) être sur le qui-vive loc v locution verbale: groupe de mots fonctionnant comme un verbe. Although he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1907, his political views, which grew more toxic as he aged, have long made him critically unpopular. Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017. 12. keep your wits about you, have your wits about you v expr. wit meaning: 1. the ability to use words in a clever and humorous way: 2. a person who is skilled at using…. See also: have, keep, wit. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. be/remain quick to think and act in a demanding, difficult or dangerous situation: Mountaineering is dangerous, so you need to keep your wits about you. How to use live by one's wits in a sentence. tags: odd-thomas, self-deception, wits. To stay calm and rational, especially in times of stress. Wit is the ability to use words or ideas in an amusing, clever, and imaginative way. 1. To think carefully before an action, regarding the consequences that may be dangerous for you and/or others. For example, After the collision I had my wits about me and got his name and license number, or Being followed was terrifying, but Kate kept her wits about her and got home safely. See also: The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son. d. Archaic A person of exceptional intelligence. Rudyard Kipling. Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017. Top definition keep your wits about you To keep your mind in focus, to not let your guard down no matter what. to remain rational when threatened or under stress; to keep one's mind operating in a time of stress. See also: have, keep, wit. See also: have, keep, wit. Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017. (sometimes singular) the ability to reason and act, esp quickly (esp in the phrase have one's wits about one) (sometimes singular) right mind, sanity (esp in the phrase out of one's wits) at one's wits' end at a … See also: Rudyard Kipling is one of the best-known of the late Victorian poets and story-tellers. See full dictionary entry for wit COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. See also: have, keep, wit. have/keep your ˈwits about you. Keep one's wits about one definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. 10. [Early 1600s] 14. 2) So be careful as it could happen to anyone and keep your wits about you and never give up the fight. to be readyto thinkquicklyin a situationand reactto things that you are not expecting: Cycling is potentiallyvery dangerousin the city- you have to keepyourwitsabout you. (sometimes singular) right mind, sanity (esp in the phrase out of one's wits) Top synonyms for keep your wits (other words for keep your wits) are keep an eye out, stay sharp and keep your eyes open. Luckily, the teacher kept her wits about her and was able to evacuate all of her students from the burning building. ... “When my wits fail me, I resort to self-deception.” ― Dean Koontz, Brother Odd. If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. (David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens) Oh, my Irish wits, could they not help me now, when I needed help so sorely? Find more ways to say wits, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. 2 likes. Ex : "faire référence à" être vigilant vi + adj b. often wits Practical intelligence; shrewdness or resourcefulness: living by one's wits. Another word for wits. Your Man World. If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. Learn more. have/keep your ˈwits about you. Boulding was known for his biting wit. 1) As a visitor you needn't feel paranoid, but you should always keep your wits about you, particularly at night. 9. be at your wits' end meaning: 1. to be so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next: 2. to be so…. have/keep your ˈwits about you. I am at my wits’ end. The natural ability to perceive and understand; intelligence. wit 1 (wĭt) n. 1. a. To stay calm and rational, especially in times of stress. We had to rely on our wits as well as our bodies to get into and out of some really rough places. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. See also: See also: keep, wit. keep your wits about you, have your wits about you v expr verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." (also keep your wits about you) to think and react quickly when something dangerous or difficult happens unexpectedly: She managed to keep her wits about her and escaped unharmed. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful. ‘The only thing I can do is keep my wits about me and stay alert, you know?’ ‘He added: ‘I suppose it was fortunate that I kept my wits about me.’’ ‘I panicked and, although it would be ridiculous to die of exposure in Norfolk, I could have done if I had not kept my wits about me.’ 12. Learn more. If Jane hadn't kept her wits about her during the fire, things would have been much worse. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son. (The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) I did every wild extravagance that could be done, and was a long way beyond the end of my wits when Miss Mills came into the room. c. wits Sound mental faculties; sanity: scared out of my wits. See also: Meaning of have/keep (all) your wits about youin English. Luckily, the teacher kept her wits about her and was able to evacuate all of her students from the burning building. be/remain quick to think and act in a demanding, difficult or dangerous situation: Mountaineering is dangerous, so you need to keep your wits about you. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Well, I want you to follow me down to the bottom Underneath the insane asylum Keep your wits about you while you got 'em 'Cause your wits are first to … Synonym Discussion of wit. have/keep your ˈwits about you. Learn more. If Jane hadn't kept her wits about her during the fire, things would have been much worse. Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade. 4) This is when it gets exciting. What's my problem? 2. a. be/remain quick to think and act in a demanding, difficult or dangerous situation: Mountaineering is dangerous, so you need to keep your wits about you. Also, keep one's wits about one. “The great drawback of being witty is that you have to keep your eyes fixed on the semi-idiots around you, and absorb their worthless sensations.” ― Stendhal, The Life of Henry Brulard. be/remain quick to think and act in a demanding, difficult or dangerous situation: Mountaineering is dangerous, so you need to keep your wits about you. 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