Collocations for "smart"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "smart" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
smart
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- is a smart [student, child]
- is too smart for that
- am not smart enough for this
- [that was, you made] a smart choice
- smart business [practices, solutions]
- a smart [campaigner, businessman, coach]
- please (just) be smart about it
- that was not very smart
- was [pretty, very, incredibly] smart too
- don't be a smart ass
- vulgar, slang, UK: you're such a smart arse
- a smart [card, car]
- smart [shopping, working]
- a smart [bomb, cooler]
- enough of your smart [comments, remarks]!
- (not) a very smart move
- was wearing a smart [outfit, suit]
- [walked with, take] smart [steps, strides]
- a smart [slap, blow] on the [ear, forehead]
- that (really) smarts
- my [knee, cut, injury] (really) smarts
- that [fall, hit, punch] (really) smarts
- my [knee, elbow] is smarting from the [fall, scrape, break]
- her [eyes, legs] were smarting
- UK: (still) smarting from [the loss, his decision, the cutbacks, their defeat]
- UK: smarting with [agony, pain]
- [shop, work] smart
'smart' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):