The idiom "a smart cookie" in 'The House on Mango Street' signifies that the character has intelligence and potential, often mixed with a tone of regret for unfulfilled opportunities.
When the phrase "a smart cookie" is used in the story The House on Mango Street in the chapter 'A Smart Cookie,' it suggests that the character possesses intelligence and potential. This idiom typically implies that someone is clever, sharp, or capable. However, within the context of the story, this compliment may also carry a tone of regret or frustration due to unfulfilled potential, as the narrator's mother reflects on the limitations she has faced due to her circumstances. The phrase signifies that the narrator's mother has the capacity for success and intellectual accomplishment but has been held back by life's situations, such as marrying early and raising a family. Therefore, the idiom is employed to express both a recognition of innate intelligence and a poignant sense of what could have been if circumstances were different.