live by wits

live by one's wits

Fig. to survive by being clever. When you're in the kind of business I'm in, you have to live by your wits. John was orphaned at the age of ten and grew up living by his wits.

live by your wits

also live on your wits

to exist by taking advantage of any opportunity you have Kids thrown on the streets with no family to support them have to live by their wits.

live by/on your wits

to earn enough money to live by being clever or cheating people A lot of these kids are thrown out onto the streets and they have to live by their wits.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Ruairi	-	Scottish
Canaan	-	Biblical
Tiburtius	-	Ancient Roman
Chaleb	-	Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Bronagh	-	Irish
LÀNh	-	Vietnamese