smart aleck

See also: smart-aleck

English

Alternative forms

smart alec

Etymology

Aleck is a nickname for the male given name Alexander. The phrase "smart aleck" is possibly derived from the name of Aleck Hoag, a 19th-century con man and thief.

Noun

smart aleck (plural smart alecks)

One who is given to obnoxious or insolent humor; a wise guy.
One who is pretentious about their own cleverness or knowledge; a know-it-all.
One who is obnoxiously self-assured; a show off.
(rare) A well-dressed person.

Synonyms

(someone who makes insolent or obnoxious jokes): smarty, smarty pants, wise guy, wise apple, wiseass
(someone who is pretentious about their own cleverness): know-it-all, (UK) clever dick, smart ass,wise ass, smarty pants, wiseacre
(someone who is obnoxiously self-assured): smart ass

Derived terms

smart-aleck (adjective)

Translations

a wise guy

German: Naseweis (de) m
Maori: ngutu huia

Russian: у́мник (ru) m (úmnik)

a know-it-all

German: Besserwisser (de) m, Klugscheißer (de) m, Neunmalkluger m
Maori: whakaputa mōhio, ngutu huia
Portuguese: espertinho m

Russian: у́мник (ru) m (úmnik)
Spanish: listillo (es) m

a show off

German: Angeber (de) m, Aufschneider (de) m, Wichtigtuer (de) m, Großtuer m

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