Chapter Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers of Index by Roget's Thesaurus

(Phrases). A bad hand at; no good at; one's fingers all thumbs; a fresh-water sailor; the awkward squad; not likely to set the Thames on fire.

• Cunning (Substantives), craft, artfulness, subtlety, shrewdness, smartness, archness, insidiousness, slyness, opportunism, artificialness, artificiality.

Artifice, stratagem, wile, dodge, finesse, ruse, diplomacy, politics, ruse de guerre.

Duplicity, guile, circumvention, chicane, chicanery, sharp practice, Machiavellism, legerdemain, trickery, etc. 545.

Net, toils, trap, etc. 667.

A slyboots, Ulysses, Machiavel, opportunist, time-server.

(Verbs). To be cunning, etc., to contrive, design, manœuvre, wriggle, wangle, intrigue, temporise, circumvent, get round, nobble, undermine.

(Phrases). To stoop to conquer; to steal a march on; reculer pour mieux sauter; to know on which side one's bread is buttered.

(Adjectives). Cunning, crafty, artful, knowing, wily, sly, sharp, smart, slim, feline, subtle, arch, designing, intriguing, contriving, insidious, canny, downy, deceitful 545, artificial, deep, profound, diplomatic, vulpine, Machiavellian, timeserving.

(Phrase). Cunning as a fox; sharp as a needle; not to be caught with chaff.

• Artlessness (Substantives), nature, naturalness, simplicity, ingenuousness, bonhomie, frankness, naïveté, openness, abandon, candour, outspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness, honesty 939; innocence 946.

(Phrases). Enfant terrible; a mere babe.

(Verb). To be artless, etc.

(Adjectives). Artless, natural, native, plain, simple-minded, ingenuous, candid, naïve, sincere, frank 543, open, frank-hearted, open-hearted, above-board, downright, guileless, inartificial, undesigning, single- minded, honest, straightforward, outspoken.