No Flies on Them 🕵️♂️
Definition:
This phrase describes someone who’s astute, quick-witted, and too sharp to be tricked or lulled into complacency. The imagery here is of someone who never sits still long enough for flies to settle, illustrating their perpetual motion and vigilance.
Synonyms:
- On the ball
- Quick on the uptake
- Sharp as a tack
- No pushover
- Street-smart
Antonyms:
- Clueless
- Slow-witted
- Gullible
- Naive
- Oblivious
Humorous Quotes:
- “Of course there are no flies on me, I’m digitally enhanced!” — Anonymous Cyborg 🦾
- “In the game of life, being sharp means never being snack food.” — Devious Darwinian 🦊
Proverbs:
- “A wise man changes his mind, a fool never will.”
Similar Idioms and Expressions:
- “The lights are on, but nobody’s home.” (referring to someone not so sharp)
- “A step ahead” (always foreseeing and avoiding issues)
- “Caught napping” (when someone sharp finally misses something)
Literature & Books:
- Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle 📚 (For the ultimate sharp mind in literature)
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 📘 (where wit, especially by Elizabeth Bennet, is a recurring theme)
Songs:
- I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred 🎶 (For a fun, cheeky anthem for the self-assured)
- Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top 🎵
Poetry:
- Jest ‘Fore Christmas by Eugene Field 📜
Movies:
- Ocean’s Eleven 🌟 (A great example of twisty, sharp-witted strategy)
- The Hustle 🎬 (Con artists always have to be a step ahead)
- Jessica Jones (TV Series – Character study of a sharp, street-smart superhero)
### Which of these is a genuine idiom indicating someone is sharp and alert?
- [x] No flies on me
- [ ] Butter on a pancake
- [ ] Watching snakes in the shadows
- [ ] Swinging from syrup
> **Explanation:** "No flies on me" means the person is sharp and alert, not easily fooled. The others are amusing fictions.
### Which phrase implies someone is quick on the uptake?
- [ ] Running through chocolate
- [x] On the ball
- [ ] Mopping the ocean
- [ ] Cooking with square eggs
> **Explanation:** "On the ball" means being alert and quick to understand or react. The others? They might just leave you scratching your head!
### True or False: 'Sharp as a tack' is an idiom meaning someone is very intelligent and quick-witted.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! "Sharp as a tack" means someone is very sharp and perceptive.
### Which of the following titles is written by Arthur Conan Doyle?
- [x] Sherlock Holmes
- [ ] Pride and Prejudice
- [ ] A House of Lies
- [ ] The Da Vinci Code
> **Explanation:** *Sherlock Holmes* is the work of Arthur Conan Doyle, known for the sharp mind of its titular character.
### True or False: "The lights are on, but nobody's home" depicts someone who is sharp and astute.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. "The lights are on, but nobody's home" means someone is clueless or not mentally present.
Farewell until the next phrase turns the corner! May your wit be sharp, your mind swift, and your dictionary ever-enhancing your adventure in wordland.
Happy reading, W.T. Quickwit 🌟
