B1adjective3K

Crafty

UK //ˈkrɑːfti//US //ˈkræfti//

Definition

Skilled in making things by hand; sometimes cunning or deceitful.

In simple words: Good at making things or tricky in a clever way.

Examples

  • She is very crafty when it comes to making jewelry.
  • The crafty plan fooled everyone at the meeting.
  • He's known for his crafty solutions to difficult problems.
  • The crafty cat was able to sneak up on the bird.
  • Her crafty use of materials made her art unique.

Usage notes

Used to describe someone who is skillful in creating things, or someone who is cunning. It's generally positive when talking about skills and negative when discussing deceit.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'craft' - a skillful way of doing or making things.

Collocations

  • crafty tricks
  • crafty plans
  • crafty fox

Synonyms

  • skillful
  • clever
  • cunning
  • shrewd
  • wily

Antonyms

  • clumsy
  • naive

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'creative' which means original and artistic.
  • Used to describe someone who is simply clever without the skill aspect.