Eyes too soft with sleep / too clever by half

Question

What's the meaning of this sentence: "Eyes too soft with sleep"?

Does it refer to eyes with the look of fatigue or quite the opposite?

Another one: He is too clever by half.

Any differences with just saying that he is too clever? or it's just a roundabout way of saying the same thing?

Dave_anon · Accepted Answer

Hi

Can a person be too clever? Possibly not, but...

- He is too clever by half

...is the English idiom used when we want to say something like...

- He is acting too clever. If he acted more naturally, people would like him more

Or possibly..

- He thinks he is more clever than he actually is

Hope this helps, Dave

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

- Eyes soft with sleep

...isn't an idiom I've heard but I'd say it doesn't refer to fatigue exactly

The person has just woken up. They are refreshed but they're not quite back "in the real world" yet

Dave

Leoric · Answer

Now I get why this idiom was used instead of just saying that he was clever.

Thanks for your help with both answers

Eyes too soft with sleep / too clever by half

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