Etymology Journal ยท K
Keep your wits about you
Meaning
- To remain calm and think clearly during a high-pressure or confusing situation. It is a reminder not to panic.
Serious, composed
Used in a sentence
- The situation is chaotic, but you must keep your wits about you.
- In a crisis, the most important thing is to keep your wits about you.
- She managed to keep her wits about her even after the fender bender.
The backstory
This comes from the archaic meaning of wits as intelligence or common sense. To have them about you means they are accessible and ready for use.
Heard in
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