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Meaning & use

fount of wisdom

phrase·Advancedliterary

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UK/ˌfaʊnt əv ˈwɪzdəm/
US/ˌfaʊnt əv ˈwɪzdəm/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phraseliterary

    a person or thing that is a constant, rich source of knowledge and good advice.

    Grammar: Usually used with 'a' or 'the': she is a fount of wisdom; the fount of wisdom on this subject.

    Patterns

    • be a fount of wisdom
    • a fount of wisdom on something
    • turn to someone as a fount of wisdom

    Whenever I have a problem at work, I call my grandmother; she is a real fount of wisdom.

    The old gardener was a fount of wisdom about roses and frost.

    Students treated the professor as a fount of wisdom on medieval history.

  2. phrasefixed phrasehumorous

    used humorously for someone who talks as if they know everything.

    Grammar: Often said with a smile or a raised eyebrow: well, the fount of wisdom has spoken.

    Patterns

    • the fount of wisdom has spoken
    • our local fount of wisdom

    He explained the rules of football to us again, and my sister said, 'The fount of wisdom has spoken.'

    Our local fount of wisdom told everyone how to run the village fete.

Common combinations

a fount of wisdom
Her diary is a fount of wisdom about living simply.
a fount of wisdom on
He is a fount of wisdom on matters of money.
a veritable fount of wisdom
The little book proved a veritable fount of wisdom for new parents.
turn to someone as a fount of wisdom
Young teachers turned to her as a fount of wisdom.

Synonyms and how they differ

oracle
An oracle is a person or place people consult for answers; it sounds grander and more mysterious than 'fount of wisdom'.
sage
A sage is a wise older person; 'fount of wisdom' can also describe a book or an institution.
mine of information
This is the everyday version and is about facts rather than deep wisdom.

Word family

fount noun
a source or, in literary use, a fountain
wisdom noun
the quality of being wise; good judgment
wise adjective
having good judgment based on experience

Commonly confused: fount of wisdom or font?

fount of wisdom vs font

'Font' is the usual modern spelling for a basin of water in a church and for lettering styles, while 'fount' appears mainly in this phrase and in literary writing.

Practice

In the phrase 'a fount of wisdom', what does 'fount' mean?

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