[Ads-l] Slight antedating of "whip-smart"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Excellent citation, Steven.

OED lists two senses:
  1. Neat and trim; impeccably tailored, stylish. Now somewhat rare.
       (First citation Dec 10, 1937)
  2. Extremely intelligent or clever. Cf. smart as a whip at smart adj.
       (First citation Jan 11, 1942)

Below is a citation for whip-smart in 1936. This metaphorical instance
is somewhat opaque. I am not certain whether the character is supposed
to be fashionable or intelligent.

Date: December 2, 1936
Newspaper: The Davenport Democrat
Newspaper Location: Davenport, Iowa
Article: In "The Magnificent Brute"
Quote Page 13, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/299250451/?terms=%22WHIP-SMART%22&match=1

[Begin excerpt]
The story of "Magnificent Brute" casts McLaglen in a role
exceptionally suited to him, that of a giant modern swash-buckler, who
has fashioned things out of metal in half the steel mills of the
world. He believes he is case-hardened, flame-tempered,
chrome-finished, whip-smart and as impregnable as battle ship plate
until broadside fire from a couple of explosive blond beauties hit him
mid-ships.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Tue, Nov 28, 2023 at 3:54 PM Steven Losie <stevenlosie at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> WHIP-SMART
> OED3 cites the New York Times on 10 Dec 1937. Here is an instance from
> earlier that same year:
>
> [begin quote]
> As trim and whip-smart a little Japanese diplomat as the Empire could wish
> is Mr. Naotake Sato.
> [end quote]
>
> Source: TIME magazine (New York, NY), Mar 15, 1937, p.25, col.1
> Article title: JAPAN: Sato, Seaman, Geisha
> https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,757372,00.html
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org