English equivalent to the French idiom 'saisir la balle au bond'

Posted by Bob on July 07, 2006

In Reply to: English equivalent to the French idiom 'saisir la balle au bond' posted by Patrick on July 07, 2006

: Does anyone know the nearest English equivalent to the French idiom 'saisir la balle au bond' ?
: 'Saisir la balle au bond' means to be sharp witted in verbal exchanges.

Quick-witted and sharp-witted are obvious but available. Razor-tongued could be used, but it conveys a little malice, more than the French version. Silver tongued is not the same: that's more descriptive of oratorical speech. Witty is not quite it, either, since that can be written as much as spoken.