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3. live by wits

live by wits

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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.

See also: live, wit

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.

See also: live, wit

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.

See also: live, wit