# box clever

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/box-clever
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To act wisely.

## Examples

- You need to box clever if you want to win this game.
- The market is very competitive right now, so we must box clever to keep our customers.
- By choosing to negotiate rather than confront his rivals, he boxed clever and secured the best possible outcome for his team.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.