You’ll need all your wits about you x keep your wits about u
- Wesley Cruaia Cleme
- Localização: São Paulo, Brazil
- Membro desde: 17 Mar 2013, 12:36
- Perfil · 9 Mensagens
Hi folks!
I've seen two expressions and a slight difference between them.
You’ll need all your wits about you x keep your wits about you.
Context:
"That’s good to hear. Well, you’ll need all your wits about you – meaning you’ll need to think very quickly in this programme because we’re talking about intelligence, or to be more accurate, Artificial Intelligence. "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/en ... /ep-150219
"Cycling is potentially very dangerous in London - you really need to keep your wits about you."
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/have+wits+about
"Ficar em alerta/Manter-se em alerta"
Please, Is it the same meaning?
Thanks in advance.
I've seen two expressions and a slight difference between them.
You’ll need all your wits about you x keep your wits about you.
Context:
"That’s good to hear. Well, you’ll need all your wits about you – meaning you’ll need to think very quickly in this programme because we’re talking about intelligence, or to be more accurate, Artificial Intelligence. "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/en ... /ep-150219
"Cycling is potentially very dangerous in London - you really need to keep your wits about you."
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/have+wits+about
"Ficar em alerta/Manter-se em alerta"
Please, Is it the same meaning?
Thanks in advance.
INGLÊS PARA VIAGENS
3 respostas
Ordenar por: Data
- LuanMR
- Localização: Lavras - MG
- Membro desde: 19 Fev 2012, 18:26
- Perfil · 110 Pontos · 19 Mensagens
These are two different situations.
When you say "need all your wits about you", it's a more literal sense of wits, which refers to your power of intelligent observation or something in that sense. With that being said, it means you need to have an intelligent focus during the programme.
Now, "keep your wits about you" is an idiom that expresses the idea of paying close attention and staying alert.
When you say "need all your wits about you", it's a more literal sense of wits, which refers to your power of intelligent observation or something in that sense. With that being said, it means you need to have an intelligent focus during the programme.
Now, "keep your wits about you" is an idiom that expresses the idea of paying close attention and staying alert.
- PPAULO
- Localização: Rio de Janeiro-Brazil
- Membro desde: 21 Fev 2013, 23:49
- Perfil · 76.1k Pontos · 15k Mensagens
Yep, in both cases one have to to be remain/keep alert and observant.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ ... +about+one
Notice that I struck out the "to be", remain/keep is way more to the point, it´s where the emphasis needs to be. (
pun intended)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ ... +about+one
Notice that I struck out the "to be", remain/keep is way more to the point, it´s where the emphasis needs to be. (
pun intended)