Maeve was far shrewder than she ever let on.

On this Earth, where, thinks the enlightened public, did a brave little Dame de Staal (not Necker's Daughter, but a far shrewder than she) find the nearest approach to Liberty?

Admiral Davis was far shrewder than he seemed and had a sense of humour lurking beneath that almost purple complexion.

(Can anyone imagine a Broadway show about Levi Eshkol, her largely forgotten but far shrewder predecessor?)

Except Morgan was far shrewder than any general.

Oh, they're far shrewder and more persevering than men, the little spade-toothed fiends!

Mr. Guber, far shrewder, more creative and a dazzling salesman, had previously run a production company financed by Polygram that lost $80 million.

Mr. Clinton has told friends and associates that he thinks Mr. Bush is a formidable politician and far shrewder than many Democrats credit him with being.

Singer's mother, a worldly counterpoint to her luftmensch husband, is a far shrewder and more cynical figure who is often called in for backup, especially when women are involved.

Similarly, President Clinton echoed what many lawmakers, Democrats as well as Republicans, said about Mr. Bono who, by all accounts, seemed far shrewder than he appeared.