🗓️ Idiom: A Smooth Operator (noun)
💬 Meaning
- A confident and skilled person who handles situations easily and effectively.
- Someone who manages challenges or negotiations without stress or mistakes.
🧠 Example Sentences
- In client meetings, Marcus is a smooth operator — he knows exactly what to say to close the deal.
- She’s a smooth operator when it comes to managing tight deadlines and difficult teams.
- The new manager is a smooth operator who always stays calm under pressure.
🏛️ Origin
The phrase became popular in the 1940s and 1950s to describe people who were clever, confident, and persuasive — often in business or social settings. It likely comes from the idea of “operating smoothly,” like a well-functioning machine or system, with no friction or errors.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Everyone admires Julia — she’s such a ______ operator when handling tough clients.
Answer
smooth
2. Multiple choice:
What does “a smooth operator” describe?
a) Someone who avoids responsibility
b) A person who works with skill and confidence
c) Someone who works slowly and carefully
Answer
b) A person who works with skill and confidence
3. Change the sentence using “a smooth operator”:
“Daniel always manages to handle negotiations with ease and confidence.”
Answer
Daniel is a smooth operator in negotiations.
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👉 Productivity in the Workplace Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
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