Mentally Bright or Superficially Skilful?

Wednesday, 7th March, 2007  - Richard Farmer 
The Labor Party clearly believes that Australians do not think the word clever has the meaning "mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able" that my web dictionary list first among four meanings.
The policy of calling Prime Minister John Howard a clever fellow, as outlined by the Owl yesterday, clearly refers to definition two: "superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile: It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value."
So perhaps if Labor continues to apply the clever tag we will see a Liberal Party advertising campaign based on definition number three with the Prime Minister portrayed "showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious: His clever device was the first to solve the problem."
Not that definition number four is likely to be given an airing by either side of politics. No one who has seen John Howard bowl could describe him as "adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble."

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