canny

comparative cannier · superlative canniest

1. Careful, prudent, cautious.

   The politician gave a canny response to the reporter’s questions.

   2 more examples

   O! as thou art bonny, be prudent and canny,

   1723-1737, Allan Ramsay, “Love Inviting Reason”, in The Tea-Table Miscellany

   “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

2. Knowing, shrewd, astute.

   The canny lawyer knew just how to get what he wanted.

   2 more examples

   ‘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

   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

3. Frugal, thrifty.

   canny investments

   1 more example

   Whate’er he wins, I’ll guide with canny care.

   1751, Allan Ramsay, “The Gentle Shepherd”, in Poems by Allan Ramsay, published 1751

   Synonyms: abstemious, chary, moderate, cheap, close with a buck, economic, economical, frugal

4. NorthumbriaScotlandFriendly, pleasant, fair, agreeable; (sometimes) funny.

   She’s a canny lass hor like!

   1 more example

   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

5. NorthumbriaScotlandGentle, quiet, steady.

   a canny horse

   1 more example

   Be canny with this letter.

1. Northumbrianot comparableVery, considerably; quite, rather.

   canny near home

   2 more examples

   a canny long journey

   That’s a canny big horse, man!

2. NorthumbriaScotlandnot comparableGently, quietly; carefully, skilfully.

   drive canny

   1 more example

   he sits very canny

comparative cannier · superlative canniest

1. proscribedNatural, normal.

   I should have been glad to be assured that she prayed when on her knees, or read when that book was before her; I should have felt that she was more canny and human.

   1865, Sheridan Le Fanu, Uncle Silas

   1 more example

   “Live here with a lot of blooming performing animals! No fear,” they said. “And ghosts too,” some added with a shudder. “That’s what those Dryads really are. It’s not canny.”

   1951, C. S. Lewis, Prince Caspian

1. especiallySounding as if it is coming through a tin can.

   The metal zone is too 'canny'.... Boss has a handful of great distortions - DS-1, Mega Distortion, DS-2, Heavy Metal....

   2006 March 23, The Chris, “Re: Best Distortion Under $100”, in alt.guitar (Usenet)

   4 more examples

   The rear sounds sounded canny compared to the front ones. And you also have to adjust the volume so both pair of speakers are at the same level, […]

   1998 August 20, Kallel, Four speakers are a pain in the ass ;P, in 3dfx.products.voodoo2

   I am using the stereo outs, I am getting nice reverb out of it but the probelm^([sic]) is the entire sound is like i said like its coming through a can. even when in bypass mode it sound "canny". Thank you for your input. Stacey

   2000 October 17, Dreamin Man, “Lexicon MPX 100?”, in rec.audio.pro (Usenet)

   I was approch. 3 meters from the stage and the sound was very good from there. But if you had seats way up at the sides or at the back I can understand that you could have experienced a "canny" sound.

   2001 October 8, Philippe, “Antwerp - what a disappointment !!!!”, in alt.music.depeche-mode (Usenet)

   Not bad.. Although I think the 290 might have a slight edge on video crispness, I think the audio is better on the ultra HD. Hear more low end, and slightly less canny sounding from what I can tell.

   2010 May 24, nm...@wt.net, “FlipHD Saturday SECTR5 LittleWing”, in alt.guitar (Usenet)

plural Cannys

1. A surname.