bright as a button
Alert and clever
Bright as a button describes someone who is clever, alert, and quick-witted.
The phrase typically applies to children or elderly people whose mental sharpness stands out: At ninety-two, she's still bright as a button.
The comparison likely refers to the shininess of polished buttons rather than their intelligence.
Mentally quick, or fashionable
- intelligentHaving mental acuity
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- quick-wittedFast at thinking
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
brainy · gifted · precocious · perceptive · shrewd · canny · savvy · ingenious
smart
Mentally quick, or fashionable
- intelligentHaving mental acuity
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- quick-wittedFast at thinking
astute · brainy · gifted · precocious · perceptive · shrewd · canny · savvy · ingenious · whiz
sunny
Bright with daylight
glowing · bubbly · chipper · perky · upbeat · effervescent · vivacious · merry · gleeful · joyful
attentive
Paying close notice
- observantNoticing things readily
- awakeNot in slumber
- responsiveQuick to react
aware · watchful · quick · ready · lively · animated · sprightly · energetic · spry · perky
bright as a buttondumb as a box of rocks
Extremely unintelligent person
thick as a brick · dumb as a post · slow on the uptake · dim-witted · dense
bright as a buttondull as dishwater
Extremely uninteresting or boring
dull · listless · lifeless · sluggish · unresponsive
bright, brighter, brightest, brightly, brightness, brighten, brightened, brightening, brightens