crafty
adjective

- clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods

(Oxford Dictionary)

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The adjective crafty comes from the Old English word cræftig, which meant "strong" or "powerful". This is very similar to kräftig in German. It later developed to include the meaning of skillful or talented in a particular activity.

However, the word crafty now has taken on a negative connotation, to signal that someone gets what he or she wants primarily through trickery.

Although outsmarting other people could be considered a skill, let's look at a few other expressions with "craft" that show real talent:

- craft beer = beer made by individuals or small, independent brewers, and which usually includes non-traditional ingredients (Brewing craft beer is becoming popular in Germany, despite the beer purity laws)

- arts and crafts = decorative articles made by hand (Thanks to lots of arts and crafts projects, we kept the children busy during the summer)

- craftsman / craftsperson = a worker skilled in a trade (In some occupations, a craftsman earns more than a person with a university degree)

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SYNONYMS

clever, scheming, shrewd, sly, slick, cunning, deceitful, underhand

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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation

"Be very clear regarding your payment conditions, he's a very crafty negotiator."