wise as an owl
Legendarily keen-minded
Wise as an owl describes someone possessing great wisdom or intelligence.
The comparison draws on the owl's traditional association with knowledge in Western culture—its large eyes and solemn expression suggest deep contemplation.
The phrase is somewhat ironic, as owls are not particularly intelligent birds: My grandmother was wise as an owl when it came to reading people.
- owlNocturnal feathered predator
- night owlOne who stays late
- AthenaGreek wisdom deity
- sagaciousHaving acute mental discernment
- discerningHaving keen judgment
oracle · shrewd · sage · learned · foresight · judicious · wizened · prudent · wiseacre · erudite · astute · old soul · perceptive · philosopher · insightful · thoughtful · old wives' tale · spectacles
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- wisdom sayingsproverbs, sayings, adages, maxims, aphorisms
wise as an owldumb as a post
Profoundly unintelligent person
dumb as a rock · thick as a brick · dumb as a box of rocks · foolish · stupid
wise as an owlnaive
Innocently unsuspecting
innocent · green · wet behind the ears · born yesterday · callow
wise, wisdom, unwise, wisely, owls, wiser, wisecrack, wisest, wisecracker