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Smart as a Cookie

Posted by R. Berg on July 26, 2006

In Reply to: Smart as a Cookie posted by ESC on July 25, 2006

: : Hello - does anyone know the origins of the saying, Smart as a Cookie? I found one reference to 1948, but it didn't give any details. Thank you all in advance and I apologize if this has been covered, if so I was not able to put my finger on a past thread.

: I've heard "that's one smart cookie."

I've heard "a smart cookie" but not "smart as a cookie." The Dictionary of American Slang has these two among its definitions of "cookie":
"A man; usually a man who is self-confident, clever, or brusque; usu. in 'tough cookie' or 'smart cookie.' 1942: 'Just about the toughest cookie ever born.' _Amer. Mercury_, Oct.,..."
"Any person, esp. a clever, brash, or energetic one."

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