QUICK-WITTED
ADJECTIVES
► ALL THERE shrewd; quick-witted → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► APTISH intelligent, quick-witted → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BRIGHT AS A BUTTON quick-witted, mentally alert; animated, lively; cheerful → 1795
► DERRY quick-witted, acute, sharp → 19C Eng. dial.
► GALLOWS ► GALLUS quick-witted, self-confident, brave, tough, bold, daring, ostentatious, nonchalant → 1789 UK
► GAUMISH intelligent, quick-witted, knowing → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► KEEN AS A BRIAR quick-witted; intelligent →1834 Amer. dial.
► SHARP AS A BAMBOO-BRIAR quick-witted; intelligent → 1880 Amer. dial.
► SHARP AS A BRIAR quick-witted; intelligent → 1902 Amer. dial.
► SHARP AS A NEEDLE extremely quick-witted → a1616
► SMART AS A STEEL-TRAP quick-witted, intellectually alert; extremely bright and clever → 1821 Amer. dial.
► WACKENISH quick-witted, lively, shrewd → 1890 Eng. dial.
► WACKENSOME quick-witted, lively, shrewd → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WAKEN quick-witted, sharp; intelligent → 1867 Eng. dial.
► YARE-WITEL quick-witted → c1205 obs.
NOUNS – PERSON
► BUSKER a quick-witted, impudent person → 1728 obs.
► CLIP-WIT a quick-witted, sharp-tongued, or quarrelsome person → 19C Sc.
► NATURAL a quick-witted, clever, generous man → 1859 Amer. thieves’ sl.
► SPARROW a quick-witted, chirpy person; used spec. of a Londoner → 1861
► WACKENER a quick-witted, sharp person → 1878 Eng. dial.
PHRASES
► HE DIDN’T COME DOWN IN THE LAST SHOWER he’s shrewd, quick-witted → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
Lexicophilia 