耍小聪明

耍小聪明

Literally means:

play petty tricks

Actually means:

be sharp-witted but petty-minded

小聪明 refers to smartness or trickiness.

The phrase refers to doing things by playing tricks, taking shortcuts or seizing every chance to gain ad vantage by trickery instead of being earnest an surefooted. It indicates that the wit and intelligence are not used in the right place. Derogatory.

小聪明，机灵或取巧。

耍小聪明，指做事时不是认认真真，踏踏实实的，而是用心计，走近路或找机会取巧。意味着不把聪明才智用在正经的事情上。具有贬义色彩。