A Smart Cookie

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Meaning:

A Smart Cookie refers to someone who is smart, intelligent, clever, and consistently makes the right decision. When you refer to someone as a smart cookie, they always have good ideas.

“What a smart cookie!”

Origin:

Ok, are you asking where did this “cookie” reference come from? Because if you are like me, I haven’t seen a cookie take an IQ test.

Well, it comes from the 1920s when attractive women were usually referred to as ‘cookies’ because cookies always looked delicious and had a great taste when eaten; hence, it was used as a form of affection and a compliment to women.

After a decade or more, the term ‘cookie’ became associated with the adjective ‘smart.’ After a while, people started regarding attractive women who were also intelligent as “smart cookies.” Over time, the idiom became very popular and was no longer related to women alone but all genders, especially children. In England, they have a similar saying, “clever biscuit.”

Example:

Today we still use this phrase to express someone is smart and clever. Someone who comes up with great ideas when no one else can. An example sentence is:

“Jessica might be a smart cookie in many things, but she is terrible with Math.”

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