General
be wide
What does be wide mean?
Be careful, be alert, keep your wits about you. The kind of thing your da says before you head out on the lash, or a fella in the pub mutters about a dodgy bit of business. Tied directly to 'wide' meaning streetwise — to 'be wide' is to switch that mode on.
"Be wide with that crowd, they'll have the wallet off you before you sit down."
Origin
Hiberno-English, derived from 'wide' meaning shrewd or knowing (19th century).
Frequently asked questions
What does "be wide" mean?
"Be wide" means be on your guard and keep your wits about you.
How do you use "be wide" in a sentence?
"Be wide walking through there at night — anything can happen."
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