book smarts
Knowledge from studying
Book smarts refers to knowledge gained through formal education and study rather than practical experience.
Someone with book smarts excels at academic subjects, tests, and theoretical understanding: She has the book smarts but lacks street smarts.
The term often implies a gap between classroom learning and real-world competence.
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- academicRelating to education or theory
- studyingDeliberate learning effort
- textbookAcademic subject manual
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
real world · scholarly · ivory tower · brainy · intellectual · classroom · grades · straight A's · honor roll · dean's list · exams · memorization · theory · lectures · homework · nerdy · educated · clever
- intellectintelligence, intellect, brainpower, mind, cognition
- intelligenceIQ, memory, bright, clever, wise
- knowledgeknowledge, common knowledge, general knowledge, factual knowledge, prior knowledge
- expertiseexpertise, skill, mastery, proficiency, competence
- life lessonslesson learned, moral, lessons learned, life lessons, parable
- old-fashioned complaintskids these days, back in my day, no respect, work ethic, moral decay
book smartsstreet smarts
Practical urban knowledge
street wisdom · school of hard knocks · life experience · real-world experience · common sense
book smartsemotional intelligence
Capacity for managing feelings
people skills · technical skill · craftsmanship · savvy · nous
book smartspractical skills
Abilities with direct application
technical skill · craftsmanship · trade skills · know-how · mechanical aptitude
book, books, booked, booking, bookish, booklet, booklets, smart, smarts