wise
gb/wˈaɪz/ us/wˈaɪz/
B1
English
~ 5000
bölcs, megfontolt, okos, átlát, tisztában van valamivel, valami szempontjából, valami tekintetében
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is wise
She is wise beyond her years.
Korához képest nagyon bölcs.
It was wise to save some money for emergencies.
Bölcs dolog volt félretenni egy kis pénzt vészhelyzet esetére.
A wise leader listens to all sides before deciding.
He gave me some wise advice about my career.
Choosing the safer route was a wise decision.
Learner examples
My grandfather is a wise man.
A nagyapám bölcs ember.
It is wise to eat healthy food.
Okos dolog egészségesen étkezni.
She made a wise choice to rest.
He is wise because he reads a lot.
That was a wise plan.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wise' with 'smart'. 'Smart' means quick-thinking or intelligent, but 'wise' means having good judgment from experience.
Meaning
Having good judgment
Collocations
wise choice
|wise decision
|wise words
|wise advice
|wise leader
Synonyms
sensible (Focuses more on practicality and reasonableness in decisions.)
|
prudent (Emphasizes carefulness and avoiding risks.)
Antonyms
foolish (Suggests poor judgment or lack of sense.)
|
reckless (Implies ignoring possible dangers or consequences.)
Themes
character
|intelligence
|decision-making
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Knowing and understanding a lot, and making good decisions.
Having or showing the ability to make good decisions and give sound advice based on knowledge and experience.
B2
INFORMAL
2
átlát
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is wise to [something]
She was wise to their plan to cheat.
Átlátta a csalási tervüket.
I'm wise to your little game.
Átlátok a kis játékodon.
He quickly became wise to the fact that they were lying.
They thought they could trick me, but I'm wise to it.
The police are wise to the scam.
Learner examples
I am wise to his joke.
Átlátok az ugratásán.
She is wise to their plan.
Átlátja a tervüket.
He is wise to the trick.
They are wise to the problem.
We are wise to the danger.
Common mistake:
Learners may mistakenly use 'wise' alone without 'to' in this sense. The phrase 'wise to' is needed to show awareness of something specific.
Meaning
Aware or informed
Collocations
wise to the fact
|wise to the game
|wise to the trick
Synonyms
aware (General knowledge of something, not necessarily secret.)
|
informed (Having been given information or facts.)
Antonyms
unaware (Not knowing about something.)
|
ignorant (Lacking knowledge or awareness about something specific.)
Themes
awareness
|secrets
|social
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Knowing about something that others might not know yet.
Knowing about something, especially a secret or trick, often before it is revealed.
NOUN
B2
3
Weather-wise, it's been a terrible week.
Időjárás szempontjából szörnyű hét volt.
Health-wise, he's doing much better now.
Egészségi szempontból most sokkal jobban van.
Clockwise rotation moves in the same direction as a clock's hands.
Performance-wise, the new model is far superior.
Money-wise, we should be careful this month.
Learner examples
Weather-wise, it is good today.
Időjárás szempontjából ma jó idő van.
Time-wise, we are late.
Idő szempontjából késésben vagyunk.
Health-wise, she is fine.
Clockwise means moving like a clock's hands.
Price-wise, it is cheap.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'wise' in this sense with the adjective meaning 'smart'. Here it refers to 'in terms of'. Often needs a hyphen when attached to another word.
Meaning
Manner or respect
Collocations
clockwise direction
|money-wise decision
Synonyms
manner (General way in which something is done.)
|
respect (Particular aspect under consideration.)
Themes
language
|manner
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
A way of thinking about or doing something, often shown by adding '-wise' to a word.
A manner, respect, or regard in which something is considered or done, usually used in compounds or after '-wise'.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wise
IPA
GB/wˈaɪz/
US/wˈaɪz/
Syllables & stress
wise (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wise)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: wise
- Comparative: wiser
- Superlative: wisest
Word family
Expressions
crack wise
1/kɹˈæk wˈaɪz/
idiom
informal
Make a witty joke or remark
To make a funny or clever comment, often in a sarcastic way.
Examples
- Stop cracking wise and get back to work.
- He’s always cracking wise during meetings.
none the wiser
1/nˈʌn ðə wˈaɪzɚ/
idiom
Still not understanding or knowing something
Not knowing or understanding anything more than before.
Examples
- I read the instructions but was none the wiser.
- He tried to explain it, but I'm still none the wiser.
penny-wise and pound-foolish
1/pˈɛni wˈaɪz ˈænd pˈaʊnd fˈulɪʃ/
idiom
Careful with small amounts but wasteful with large ones
Being careful about spending small amounts of money but wasting larger amounts carelessly.
Examples
- Not fixing the roof now would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
- Cutting staff training might be penny-wise and pound-foolish in the long run.
street-wise
1/stɹˈit wˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
informal
Experienced with city life dangers
Knowing how to deal with difficult or dangerous situations in cities.
Examples
- She's street-wise after growing up in New York.
- You have to be street-wise if you want to live here safely.
wise up
1/wˈaɪz ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
Become aware; stop being naive
To start understanding the truth about something, especially when someone has been trying to trick you.
Examples
- You need to wise up before you get hurt.
- She finally wised up and left the cheating boyfriend.
- It's time for them to wise up about how business works.