canny en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈkæni/
Etymology
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”) ( + -y), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). Compare Scots canny, English cunny, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.
Meanings
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Careful, prudent, cautious.
The politician gave a canny response to the reporter’s questions.
“Canny now, lads, canny now!” exclaimed old Mucklebackit, who acted as commodore; “swerve the yard a bit—Now—there! there she sits safe on dry land.”
1816, [Walter Scott], The Antiquary. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:O! as thou art bonny, be prudent and canny,
1723-1737, Allan Ramsay, “Love Inviting Reason”, in The Tea-Table Miscellany
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Knowing, shrewd, astute.
Then again, in war, politics and life, it’s always wiser to treat your adversary as a canny fox, not a crazy fool.
2022 March 29, Bret Stephens, “What if Putin Didn’t Miscalculate?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:‘Paris Hilton is A-list. She’s a genuinely really big star,’ said Professor Robert Thompson, a popular culture expert at Syracuse University. She’s also a canny money-making machine.
2005 May 8, Paul Harris, “How canny Paris turned into a global business brand”, in The Guardian:The canny lawyer knew just how to get what he wanted.
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Frugal, thrifty.
canny investments
Whate’er he wins, I’ll guide with canny care.
1751, Allan Ramsay, “The Gentle Shepherd”, in Poems by Allan Ramsay, published 1751:
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(Northumbria, Scotland) Friendly, pleasant, fair, agreeable; (sometimes) funny.
But gie me a cannie hour at e’en, My arms about my dearie O; An’ warl’y cares, an’ warl’y men, Mae a’ gae tapsalteerie O!
1783, Robert Burns, “Green Grow the Rashes O”, in Songs and Ballads:She’s a canny lass hor like!
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(Northumbria, Scotland) Gentle, quiet, steady.
a canny horse
Be canny with this letter.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| canniest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| cannier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
canny · spareful · penny-pinching · economical · economic · frugal · thrifty · spary · close with a buck · tightwad · provident · abstemious · tight · prudent · parsimonious · sparing · huswifely · husbandly · chary · moderate · cheap
Translations (31)
fr prudent (careful, prudent, cautious) · de verschmitzt (knowing, shrewd, astute) · fr astucieux (knowing, shrewd, astute) · de vorsichtig (careful, prudent, cautious) · cs mazaný (knowing, shrewd, astute) · de schlau (knowing, shrewd, astute) · mi ihumanea (knowing, shrewd, astute) · pl przebiegły (knowing, shrewd, astute) · de pfiffig (knowing, shrewd, astute) · pl ostrożny (careful, prudent, cautious) · ru осмотрительный (careful, prudent, cautious) · cs prohnaný (knowing, shrewd, astute) · ro priceput (knowing, shrewd, astute) · ro experimentat (knowing, shrewd, astute) · fi varovainen (careful, prudent, cautious) · mi matawhāiti (careful, prudent, cautious) · bg хитър (knowing, shrewd, astute) · es astuto (knowing, shrewd, astute) · es cauteloso (careful, prudent, cautious) · ro prudent (careful, prudent, cautious) · bg предпазлив (careful, prudent, cautious) · bg ловък (knowing, shrewd, astute) · pl sprytny (knowing, shrewd, astute) · ro cunoscător (knowing, shrewd, astute) · fr rusé (knowing, shrewd, astute) · pl obrotny (knowing, shrewd, astute) · cs opatrný (careful, prudent, cautious) · ru осторо́жный (careful, prudent, cautious) · bg внимателен (careful, prudent, cautious) · sv försiktig (careful, prudent, cautious) · cs chytrý (knowing, shrewd, astute)