smart as a whip

idiomatic phrase

: very smart or clever
a student who is smart as a whip
Our new puppy is as smart as a whip

Examples of smart as a whip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are some people who are in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who are smart as a whip. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2023 Accra, Ghana -- Hauwa Adam is beautiful and smart as a whip. Eliza Anyangwe, CNN, 3 Sep. 2021 And from a soccer standpoint, Kreilach is smart as a whip, according to those who used to coach and play with him. Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 July 2021 Helen was a formula baby and has no allergies, has always been a healthy weight, no big sicknesses, slept through the night by 6 weeks, smart as a whip, and is just as in love with and attached to her mama as her breastfed friends are to theirs. Natalie Schumann, Country Living, 7 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smart as a whip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smart as a whip was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near smart as a whip

Cite this Entry

“Smart as a whip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smart%20as%20a%20whip. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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