know how many beans make five

know how many beans make five

old-fashioned To not be a fool or a simpleton; to be reasonably intelligent or sensible and capable of making sound, responsible decisions. He may not have a formal education, but he still knows how many beans make five. Just because we're a small rural village, she treats us all as if we don't know how many beans make five.
See also: bean, five, how, know, make, many
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

know how many beans make five

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If someone knows how many beans make five, they are intelligent and sensible. Most parents want their children to be taught the basics, so they can talk nicely, spell properly and know how many beans make five. Note: This is a very old expression which is used by the Spanish writer Cervantes in his novel `Don Quixote' (1605). It may be based on a riddle.
See also: bean, five, how, know, make, many
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

know how many beans make five

be intelligent; have your wits about you. British informal
See also: bean, five, how, know, make, many
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • not a whit
  • not a/one whit
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • aint
  • ain't
  • not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
  • not for a instant
  • not by any means