wise ◆◇◇ /wa I z/ (wises , wising , wised , wiser , wisest )
1 ADJ A wise person is able to use their experience and knowledge in order to make sensible decisions and judgments. □ She has the air of a wise woman. ● wise|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The three of us stood around the machine nodding wisely.
2 ADJ A wise action or decision is sensible. □ She had made a very wise decision. □ It is wise to seek help and counsel as soon as possible. ● wise|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ They've invested their money wisely. □ Our man had wisely decided to be picked up at the farm.
3 PHRASE If you get wise to something, you find out about it, especially when someone has been trying to keep it secret. [INFORMAL ] □ Dealers have already got wise to the trend and increased their prices accordingly.
▸ wise up PHRASAL VERB If someone wises up to a situation or state of affairs, they become aware of it and take appropriate action. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P + to ] Some insurers have wised up to the fact that their clients were getting very cheap insurance. □ [V P ] It's time to wise up and tell those around you that enough is enough.
-wise /-wa I z/
1 COMB -wise is added to nouns to form adverbs indicating that something is the case when considering the particular thing mentioned. □ Career-wise, this illness couldn't have come at a worse time. □ It was a much better day weather-wise.
2 COMB [ADV after v] -wise is added to nouns to form adverbs indicating that someone behaves in the same way as the person or thing that is mentioned. □ We were housed student-wise in dormitory rooms.
wise|crack /wa I zkræk/ (wisecracks ) N‑COUNT A wisecrack is a clever remark that is intended to be amusing, but is often rather unkind.
wise|crack|ing /wa I zkræk I ŋ/ also wise-cracking ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use wisecracking to describe someone who keeps making wisecracks. □ …a wisecracking private eye.
wi se guy (wise guys ) also wiseguy
1 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a wise guy , you dislike the fact that they think they are very clever and always have an answer for everything. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A wise guy is a member of the Mafia. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ]
wish ◆◆◇ /w I ʃ/ (wishes , wishing , wished )
1 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] A wish is a desire or strong feeling that you want to have something or do something. □ [+ for ] Clearly she had no wish for conversation. □ She wanted to go everywhere in the world. She soon got her wish. □ [+ of ] The decision was made against the wishes of the party leader.
2 → see also death wish
3 VERB If you wish to do something or to have it done for you, you want to do it or have it done. [FORMAL ] □ [V to-inf] Older children may not wish to spend all their time in adult company. □ [V ] We can dress as we wish now. □ [V + for ] There were the collaborators, who wished for a German victory.
4 VERB [no cont] If you wish something were true, you would like it to be true, even though you know that it is impossible or unlikely. □ [V that] I wish that I could do that. □ [V n to-inf] The world is not always what we wish it to be.
5 VERB If you wish for something, you express the desire for that thing silently to yourself. In fairy stories, when a person wishes for something, the thing they wish for often happens by magic. □ [V + for ] We have all wished for men who are more considerate. ● N‑COUNT Wish is also a noun. □ Blow out the candles and make a wish.
6 VERB [no cont] If you say that you would not wish a particular thing on someone, you mean that the thing is so unpleasant that you would not want them to be forced to experience it. □ [V n + on ] It's a horrid experience and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
7 VERB If you wish someone something such as luck or happiness, you express the hope that they will be lucky or happy. □ [V n n] I wish you both a very good journey. □ [V n adv] Goodbye, Hanu. I wish you well.
8 N‑PLURAL [adj N ] If you express your good wishes towards someone, you are politely expressing your friendly feelings towards them and your hope that they will be successful or happy. [POLITENESS ] □ I found George's story very sad. Please give him my best wishes. SYNONYMS wish NOUN 1
desire: I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
longing: Imelda spoke of her longing to return home.
aspiration: …the needs and aspirations of our pupils.
urge: He had an urge to open a shop of his own.
need: Charles has never felt the need to compete with anyone. USAGE wish
Don’t use ‘wish’ with a clause to say that you hope something good will happen to someone. Don’t say, for example, ‘
wish|bone /w I ʃboʊn/ (wishbones ) N‑COUNT A wishbone is a V-shaped bone in chickens, turkeys, and other birds.
wi sh|ful thi nk|ing N‑UNCOUNT If you say that an idea, wish, or hope is wishful thinking , you mean that it has failed to come true or is unlikely to come true. □ It is wishful thinking to expect deeper change under his leadership.
wi sh list (wish lists ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] If you refer to someone's wish list , you mean all the things which they would like to happen or be given, although these things may be unlikely. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …one special toy that tops the wish list of every child.