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
Jeremy	['dʒerimi]
DÉOdat	-	French
ŞIrin	-	Kurdish
Warren	['wɔrən]
Dunbar	['dʌnbɑ:]
Adlai	AD-lay (English), AD-lie (English)	Biblical, Biblical Hebrew