Idiom idiom
smooth operator
Meaning
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He is a smooth operator who always gets what he wants.”
“The new manager is such a smooth operator that he convinced the entire team to work overtime without a single complaint.”
“With his effortless charm and calculated rhetoric, the politician proved himself a smooth operator capable of navigating even the most hostile debates.”
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Last updated August 10, 2026