smart as a whip
Quick-witted and sharp
Smart as a whip means highly intelligent or mentally quick.
The comparison suggests the speed and sharpness of a whip's crack: She's smart as a whip—figured out the whole scheme in minutes.
The phrase is informal and complimentary, often applied to children or to adults who impress with their cleverness.
Intensely bright or gifted
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- sharp-mindedHaving quick intelligence
- brainyPossessing high intellect
intellectual · knowledgeable · learned · scholarly · erudite · savant · sage · astute
Fast at thinking
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- reparteeQuick, clever conversation
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- quipBrief, clever remark
snappy · sharp-tongued · wordplay · comeback · puns · raconteur · humorous · droll
Sly, scheming cleverness
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- cannyShrewdly practical and cautious
- slyCleverly deceptive
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
crafty · wily · streetwise · savvy · sharp · scheming · resourceful · strategic
Sharp or enthusiastic
- incisiveSharply analytical
- penetratingPassing into or through
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
razor-sharp · perspicacious · eagle-eyed · observant · alert · attentive · vigilant · hawk-eyed
brilliant
Intensely bright or gifted
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- sharp-mindedHaving quick intelligence
brainy · intellectual · knowledgeable · learned · scholarly · erudite · savant · sage · astute · perceptive
quick-witted
Fast at thinking
quip · snappy · sharp-tongued · wordplay · comeback · puns · raconteur · humorous · droll · facetious
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
calculating · crafty · wily · streetwise · savvy · sharp · scheming · resourceful · strategic · tactician
keen
Sharp or enthusiastic
- incisiveSharply analytical
- penetratingPassing into or through
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
acute · razor-sharp · perspicacious · eagle-eyed · observant · alert · attentive · vigilant · hawk-eyed
smart as a whipdumb as a rock
Extremely unintelligent
stupid · dumb as a post · thick as a brick · dumb as a box of rocks · dull
smart as a whipslow on the uptake
Comprehending things belatedly
sluggish · plodding · dim · dull-witted · a day late and a dollar short
smart as a whipslow on the uptake
Comprehending things belatedly
dull as dishwater · thick-headed · sluggish · plodding · unperceptive
smart, smarts, smartest, smarty, smarter, outsmart, whip, smartly, smartness