live by one's wits

Manage by clever expedience rather than hard work or wealth. For example, Alan's never held a steady job but manages to live by his wits. This expression uses wits in the sense of "keen mental faculties." [c. 1600]

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Fairy	['fɛəri]
Marceli	mahr-TSE-lee	Polish
Aliaksei	-	Belarusian
Ismahel	-	Biblical Latin
Arieh	ahr-YE (Jewish)	Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
LÁRa	LOW-rah	Icelandic