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  1. Unraveling the Mystery: A Smart Cookie Explained • Discover the true meaning behind the popular phrase 'A Smart Cookie' and delve into its fascinating origin...

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    • Ultimate Word Definitions
  2. Cracking the Code: Decoding the Phrase 'Smart Cookie' • Unravel the mystery behind the popular phrase 'Smart Cookie' and discover its true meaning and origin...

  3. Cracking the Code: Decoding the Phrase 'Smart Cookie' • Discover the hidden meaning behind the popular phrase 'Smart Cookie' and unravel the secrets of intel...

  4. Origin and History. One prominent theory about the origin of “smart cookie” relates to the longstanding tradition in the English language of using food items as metaphors for people. Similar phrases like “tough cookie” or “sweet as pie” have been used to describe people’s characteristics.

  5. Jul 26, 2023 · Where Does "A Smart Cookie" Come From? The term "a smart cookie" is thought to have originated in the United States during the 20th century. The word "cookie" is a commonly used term in American English to refer to what is known as a biscuit in British English.

  6. Sep 14, 2017 · A website called “About English Idioms” says that starting in 1920, the term cookie was used to refer to a person or to “an alluring young woman.” The phrase smart cookie was first used in 1948 and it can refer to both men and women, as can the term tough cookie.

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  8. Jan 31, 2023 · By the '40s and '50s, "cookie" also became synonymous with the word "smart," which led to the coining of the idiom "smart cookie" (to refer to any gender) as we use it today. This is also where the phrase "tough cookie" — a compliment for an emotionally strong person — comes from.

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