не промах

разг., одобр.

bright (sharp, smart) lad (chap, wench, etc.); not easily abashed; he's got his head screwed on right; he's got his wits about him; he knows what's what

А Анютка девка не промах. Даром что дура, а надумала... такое, что не всякому и грамотному на ум вскочит. (А. Чехов, Происшествие) — But Anyutka was a sharp wench. For all she was so simple, she thought of something that, I must say, not many an educated man would have thought of.

- Хозяин идёт, - сказал Коржов. - Молодой хозяин, - заметил Капитон Иванович. - Трудно ему здесь приходится. Но он вроде парень не промах. (В. Овечкин, Гости в Стукачах) — 'There comes the boss,' said Korzhov. 'He's a youngish boss,' Kapiton Ivanovich remarked. 'Isn't having it any too easy here. But he's got his head screwed on right, I believe.'

Ох, не оберёшься теперь разговоров! Одобрять его будут солдаты, мол, взводный у них парень не промах, хотя с виду интеллигент. (В. Астафьев, Пастух и пастушка) — Well, there'd be plenty of talk now, that was certain! His soldiers would, of course, approve - their CO was a smart lad even though he did look like one of those intellectuals!