wise
wise — adjective
1. Able to make smart and reasonable decisions because you have learned from past e
Able to make smart and reasonable decisions because you have learned from past experience and understand people and situations well.
Sofie decided it was wise to save part of her salary each month for emergencies.
pattern: it is wise to + infinitive
The village elders gave wise advice about resolving conflicts without fighting.
Faisal made a wise choice by accepting the scholarship instead of taking the full-time job.
It would be wise for the company to invest in new equipment before the busy season.
The prime minister's wise handling of the crisis earned her praise from all parties.
文法句型
it is wise to + infinitive
it is wise (that) + clause
wise + noun
用法筆記
Often used in the impersonal construction 'it is wise to / that…' giving general advice. Subject can be a person (a wise leader) or an action/decision (a wise move).
常見錯誤
2. Knowing about a dishonest situation, a secret plan, or someone's hidden intentio
Knowing about a dishonest situation, a secret plan, or someone's hidden intentions, often because you have experienced similar things before.
Owen was wise to the mechanic's trick of charging for parts he never replaced.
pattern: be wise to + noun phrase
The employees soon got wise to the supervisor's habit of taking credit for their work.
pattern: get wise to + noun phrase
After losing money in two similar schemes, Ayesha is now wise to every trick online scammers use.
Darius pretended to believe the excuse, but his face showed he was wise.
- naive
Lacking experience or awareness of dishonest behavior
文法句型
be wise to + noun phrase / gerund
get wise to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'to' ('be wise to someone/something'). Not used before a noun (*a wise person to scams). Often negative — you are wise to something bad or secret, not to something ordinary.
常見錯誤
3. Speaking or behaving in a rude, overly confident way that shows a lack of respec
Speaking or behaving in a rude, overly confident way that shows a lack of respect, especially when a younger or less senior person addresses an authority figure.
The student got detention for a wise remark when the principal asked him a question.
"Don't get wise with me, young man," the coach said with a stern look.
fixed phrase: don't get wise with me
Stefan's wise comments during the meeting annoyed his colleagues and embarrassed his manager.
The taxi driver gave a wise reply when the passenger told him to drive faster.
- impertinent
More formal; describes behavior that disrespects authority
- insolent
Stronger; openly and offensively disrespectful
- fresh
Informal, especially American; describes mildly rude or overly bold behavior
- respectful
Showing proper deference to authority
- polite
Behaving with good manners
用法筆記
Common in fixed phrases like 'don't get wise with me' or 'wise guy' (a person who makes obnoxiously clever remarks). Strongly informal and often confrontational. Almost never used in writing outside dialogue.
常見錯誤
wise — noun
1. A particular manner, way, or method in which something happens or is done. Now c
A particular manner, way, or method in which something happens or is done. Now considered old-fashioned and mostly used in fixed phrases.
The committee's decision was in no wise unfair — every member had voted after careful discussion.
fixed phrase: in no wise
The celebration was in every wise a success, from the music to the food to the speeches.
fixed phrase: in every wise
The witness stated that the accused was in no wise involved with the robbery.
The two proposals were in every wise identical, so the board chose the cheaper one.
文法句型
in no wise
in any wise
in every wise
用法筆記
Archaic in modern English outside set prepositional phrases. Modern alternatives: 'in no way', 'in every respect'. Learners should recognize this sense for reading classic literature and legal texts but avoid active use.
2. Stephen Samuel Wise (1874–1949), an American rabbi and influential Jewish leader
Stephen Samuel Wise (1874–1949), an American rabbi and influential Jewish leader who was born in Hungary, founded the Jewish Institute of Religion, and was a prominent figure in the early Zionist movement.
Stephen Samuel Wise was a key figure in the establishment of the American Jewish Congress in 1918.
Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise spoke publicly against the Nazi regime's treatment of Jews in the 1930s.
The Jewish Institute of Religion was founded by Stephen Samuel Wise in New York City.
Stephen Samuel Wise helped create the World Jewish Congress in 1936.
3. Thomas James Wise (1859–1937), an English bibliophile (book collector) who was l
Thomas James Wise (1859–1937), an English bibliophile (book collector) who was later revealed to have forged rare first editions and stolen pages from the British Museum, causing a major scandal in the literary world.
Thomas James Wise built a famous library, but his forged editions destroyed his reputation.
Collectors were shocked to learn that Thomas James Wise had fabricated dozens of supposed first editions.
The 1934 scandal revealed Thomas James Wise as one of England's most skilled literary forgers.
Thomas James Wise stole pages from rare books at the British Museum for his collection.
wise — adverb
1. Used after nouns and adjectives to form adverbs meaning 'in this direction' or '
Used after nouns and adjectives to form adverbs meaning 'in this direction' or 'in this way', indicating how something moves, is arranged, or is done.
Turn the handle clockwise to tighten the screw on the cabinet door.
suffix: -wise meaning 'in this direction' (clockwise)
The dancers moved counterclockwise around the wooden stage in a slow, graceful circle.
You must submit the report by Friday; otherwise, the client will cancel the contract.
The children arranged the chairs in a circle and moved clockwise from one seat to the next.
文法句型
noun + -wise (forms adverb)
adjective + -wise
用法筆記
'Otherwise' is a single word with a broader meaning (or else, differently) and is the most common -wise formation. 'Clockwise' and 'counterclockwise' are the main direction examples. Most other formations (e.g., 'lengthwise') are less frequent.
常見錯誤
2. Used after nouns to form adverbs meaning 'concerning a particular thing' or 'in
Used after nouns to form adverbs meaning 'concerning a particular thing' or 'in terms of a specific area', limiting the scope of a statement to one topic.
Moneywise, the trip was a disaster — Andrés spent twice what he had planned.
suffix: -wise meaning 'regarding/in terms of'
Timewise, the project is on schedule, but the quality of the work still needs attention.
Experiencewise, Mira was the strongest candidate for the job, having worked in three different countries.
Apinya checked the apartment — sizewise it was perfect, but the kitchen was too small.
- regarding
More formal; used before the topic rather than as a suffix
- concerning
Formal; similar to 'regarding'
文法句型
noun + -wise (forms adverb meaning 'regarding')
用法筆記
Informal and sometimes criticized in formal writing. Use sparingly in essays or business reports; alternatives like 'in terms of…', 'regarding…', or 'with respect to…' are preferred in formal contexts.