live by one's wits

idiom

: to survive by doing clever and sometimes dishonest things
Out in the jungle, with no food or shelter, he had to live by his wits.
a young thief who lives by her wits

Dictionary Entries Near live by one's wits

Cite this Entry

“Live by one's wits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20by%20one%27s%20wits. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!