Bright-idea
A clever thought or plan. For example, John had a bright idea for saving space—we would each have a terminal but share the printer. This term uses bright in the sense of “intelligent” or “quick-witted” and may be employed either straightforwardly, as in the example above, or ironically, as in Jumping in the pool with your clothes on—that was some bright idea. [ Late 1800s ]
Contemporary Examples
Why You Should Give LED Light Bulbs for Christmas. Seriously. Daniel Gross December 3, 2013
From Edison to Jobs The Daily Beast September 24, 2014
Val Kilmer for Governor? Lloyd Grove May 10, 2009
Why James Murdoch Might Never Take Over Rupert’s Media Empire Nicholas Wapshott November 21, 2011
Sidney Harman: An Extraordinary Life Jonathan Alter April 12, 2011
Historical Examples
The Angel and the Author – and Others Jerome K. Jerome
Tommy and Co. Jerome K. Jerome
Sally Dows and Other Stories Bret Harte
Seen and Unseen E. Katharine Bates
Dick Cheveley W. H. G. Kingston
Read Also:
- Bright-lights
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- Brightline
(of rules, standards, etc.) unambiguously clear: This muddies the waters of what should be a brightline rule. Physical Chemistry, brightline spectrum.
- Brightline-spectrum
the spectrum of an incandescent substance appearing on a spectrogram as one or more bright lines against a dark background.
- Bright-wool
the wool of sheep raised east of the Mississippi River.
- Brightwork
polished metal parts, as on a ship or automobile. Nautical. all plain or varnished woodwork that is kept scoured on a vessel. noun shiny metal trimmings or fittings on ships, cars, etc varnished or plain woodwork on a vessel