English Dictionary

CANNY (cannier, canniest)

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

Irregular inflected forms: cannier  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation, canniest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

 Dictionary entry overview: What does canny mean? 

CANNY (adjective)
  The adjective CANNY has 1 sense:

1. showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with othersplay

  Familiarity information: CANNY used as an adjective is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


CANNY (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: cannier  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: canniest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

Synonyms:

cagey; cagy; canny; clever

Context example:

too clever to be sound

Similar:

smart (showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness)


 Context examples 


It's no canny to run frae London to the Black Sea wi' a wind ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were blawin' on yer sail for his ain purpose.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"All hat and no cattle." (English proverb)

"A real friend takes the hand of his friend in overwhelming worry and fire." (Afghanistan proverb)

"Seek counsel of him who makes you weep, and not of him who makes you laugh." (Arabic proverb)

"By firelight, an old rag looks like sturdy hemp fabric." (Corsican proverb)



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