Meanings
nounword to the wise (plural words to the wise)
plural words to the wise
- idiomaticA brief piece of advice.
adverb
- idiomaticUsed to emphasis following as a piece of significant advice.
Well have fun, but, word to the wise, don't let your sister take control.
Origin
From a longer saying: "A word to the wise is sufficient".
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech moudrému napověz, chytrému napověz
- moudrému napovězidiomatic
- chytrému napovězidiomatic
Finnish pieni neuvo
- pieni neuvoidiomatic
French à bon entendeur salut
- à bon entendeur salutidiomatic
German wenn ich dir einen Rat geben darf
- wenn ich dir einen Rat geben darfidiomatic
Greek ο νοών νοείτω
- ο νοών νοείτω (o noón noeíto)idiomatic
Italian a buon intenditor poche parole
- a buon intenditor poche paroleidiomatic
Polish słowo mądrości
- słowo mądrościidiomatic
Spanish un consejo, a buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan
- un consejoidiomatic
- a buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastanidiomatic
Cite this entry
APA
word to the wise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/word%20to%20the%20wise
MLA
“word to the wise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/word%20to%20the%20wise. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “word to the wise,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/word%20to%20the%20wise.
Source: word to the wise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.