neat

B1 · Intermediate Informal · American English

adj. good, interesting, or impressive.

adj. used colloquially to express approval or to describe something as clever or desirable.

“That is a really neat trick; how did you do it?”

“It was a neat solution to a complex problem, satisfying both the engineering requirements and the tight budget constraints.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. served as a single liquid without adding water, ice, or other drinks.

adj. referring to liquor served at room temperature without any water, ice, or mixer.

“He ordered a scotch neat and sat by the fireplace to drink it.”

“The connoisseur insisted on tasting the vintage bourbon neat to fully appreciate the subtle notes of oak and vanilla.”

C1 · Advanced Science Technical

adj. a chemical or liquid used on its own without being mixed with anything else.

adj. referring to a liquid reagent or gas used without a solvent or cosolvent.

“The experiment requires the use of neat acid, so please wear gloves.”

“The reaction was performed under neat conditions to prevent the solvent from interfering with the delicate molecular bonding process.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. simple and effective, but perhaps missing some details.

adj. characterized by a simple elegance or precision that may occasionally overlook underlying complexities.

“The book provides a neat explanation of how the internet works.”

“While the theory offers a neat summary of the events, it fails to account for the political motivations of the secondary characters.”