Question
11 Nov 2014
- Japanese
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English (US)
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French (France)
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Simplified Chinese (China)
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Question about English (US)
What does ~cookie imply? For example, when people say smart cookie instead of just smart, what is the difference?
What does ~cookie imply? For example, when people say smart cookie instead of just smart, what is the difference?
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11 Nov 2014
Featured answer
- English (US)
"so-and-so is a/one smart cookie!" Pretty sure it's said in a conscious effort to be colloquial/folksy (and therefore humorous)
The same goes for "one tough cookie!" I can't think of any more adjectives attached to it as expressions...
smart cookie = emphatically, an intelligent person
tough cookie = emphatically, a resilient person
Pretty sure these expressions are always used to speak positively/approvingly/admiringly of someone--but they are casual/informal
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- English (US)
It's a figure of speech but I'm not sure of its origin. Usually it's phrased as “she/he is one smart cookie.” It means more than smart. It implies a degree of genius or cleverness. Similar expressions are “sharp as a tack” and “smart as a whip.”
Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
- English (UK)
That is the only time you would say cookie to describe a person, and it is typically used to describe a female
- English (US)
That is not how one spells typically. Also, smart cookie can be a male or female.
- English (US)
- English (UK)
That is why the word "typically" is included, while smart cookie can refer to a male, it is predominantly used when referring to a female
- English (US)
"so-and-so is a/one smart cookie!" Pretty sure it's said in a conscious effort to be colloquial/folksy (and therefore humorous)
The same goes for "one tough cookie!" I can't think of any more adjectives attached to it as expressions...
smart cookie = emphatically, an intelligent person
tough cookie = emphatically, a resilient person
Pretty sure these expressions are always used to speak positively/approvingly/admiringly of someone--but they are casual/informal
- Japanese
Thank you everyone for extremely helpful explanations and example :)!!!!! I think I understand this now!
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