What Does "Too Clever by Half" Mean?
"Too clever by half" is an English idiom. It means "excessively cunning or overly confident in one's intelligence, often resulting in negative consequences."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "too clever by half" used in a sentence:- He thought he could outsmart everyone, but he ended up being too clever by half and got caught in his own scheme.
- She's known for being too clever by half, always trying to manipulate situations to her advantage.
- Being too clever by half can lead to mistrust and isolation from others.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Too Clever by Half" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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