Not winning an election, or securing a decisive advantage, but just looking clever.
But just at the moment Uncle Quentin did not look very clever.
I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track.
But when you go and lose three on the trot, it doesn't look so clever.
As you say, the middle order hasn't looked too clever so far.
Unfortunately, many of these effects looked too self-consciously clever.
"Looking for people to trade with," she said, trying to look clever and harmless.
This would not make us look very clever if the matter were subsequently to be taken to court.
He looked frightfully clever, like a child too smart for its own good.
It made him look very clever and loving, though I wasn't sure why.