wide boy

Related to wide awake, i.e. sharp-witted, open-eyed, with wide open eyes.

wide boy (plural wide boys)

1. (slang, UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) A man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing.
   • 1992 July 21, Edwina Currie, Diary:

     Much amusement at Westminster about David Mellor, a wide boy if ever there was one. Someone tapped his girlfriend's phone and sold the tape to The People. Very funny stuff—all about how knackered he was.

• geezer, spiv