mother wit
/'mʌðəwit/
Definition
Noun: * Native intelligence; common sense; practical judgment or understanding that is not acquired through formal education. This term refers to the innate, natural wisdom and good sense a person possesses. It emphasizes intuitive understanding and the ability to make sound decisions in everyday life.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- She may not have a college degree, but she has a lot of mother wit and can solve any practical problem.
- Sometimes, mother wit is more valuable than book knowledge when dealing with people.
- The old farmer relied on his mother wit and years of experience, not on weather forecasts.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a tone of respect for non-academic, experiential wisdom. It can be used to contrast practical, innate intelligence with learned, theoretical knowledge.
- The engineer had the technical plans, but the construction foreman's mother wit prevented a major accident on site.
Variants and Related Words
- Common sense (n): The most direct and common synonym, referring to sound practical judgment concerning everyday matters.
- Native intelligence (n): Innate cognitive ability.
- Shrewdness (n): Sharp powers of judgment, often in practical matters.
- Gumption (n, informal): Initiative, resourcefulness, and courage.
Synonyms
- Common sense
- Good sense
- Practicality
- Savvy (informal)
- Native intelligence
Related Idioms
- To have horse sense: To have practical, common sense. (Similar in meaning, but "mother wit" is less colloquial.)
- He's a successful businessman because he has good horse sense.
- Street smarts: The experience and knowledge needed to deal with the potential difficulties or dangers of life in a big city. (This is more specific to urban survival, whereas "mother wit" is more general.)
- Book smarts are one thing, but you need street smarts to navigate this neighborhood.
Noun
-
sound practical judgment
-
Common sense is not so common
-
he hasn't got the sense God gave little green apples
-
fortunately she had the good sense to run away
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
