a smart cookie

smart cookie

A clever and intelligent person. Don't underestimate Cindy's intelligence—she's one smart cookie!
See also: cookie, smart
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a smart cookie

If someone is a smart cookie, they are clever and have good ideas. Anyone who made billions in the Russian oil industry is clearly a smart cookie. Helen's a pretty smart cookie — I trust her.
See also: cookie, smart
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a/one smart ˈcookie

(American English, informal) a clever person with good ideas: Jed is one smart cookie. I’m sure he’ll do the right thing.
See also: cookie, one, smart
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a/one smart cookie
  • smart cookie
  • (one) smart apple
  • cookie
  • get smart
  • get smart (with one)
  • get smart with someone
  • one smart apple
  • (as) smart as paint
  • smart
References in periodicals archive
The film's code-cracking hero, Robert Langdon, is undoubtedly a smart cookie. But I bet even he couldn't work out why it costs pounds 5.40 for a watery Pepsi and a carton of polystyrene-flavoured popcorn.
WENT to the pictures on Sunday to see The Da Vinci Code
And yes, Chris Hodgeson is a smart cookie, now if he would just come out of the smoke-filled rooms and closed-door smart growth 'panel' meetings; we could see how smart his ideas are.
Can smart panels be smart? (Letter to the Editor)
Because--listen to this and believe it--you're a smart cookie. Everybody is smart in different ways, and everybody learns in different ways.
Smart girls, bad grades: your teachers and parents want your grades to be higher. And you want your grades to be higher. So why aren't they? Find out here
However, her recent comments that Sienna Miller, the new object of Jude's affections, is 'really lovely' show that she's a smart cookie.
Shari Low: Incidentally
You're a smart cookie, so you should be able to work in some shut-eye, chill space and hang time ...
GL's astronomical astrological 2004 cast: want the scoop on boys, buds, grades and fam for the upcoming year? Search no more.... We've got your 2004-and-411!
Gorgeous Kathy Lloyd shows she's a smart cookie when it comes to dunking her favourite biscuit.
Kathy's glam dunk