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)

1. One who is given to obnoxious or insolent humor.

   Synonyms: wise guy, smarty, smarty pants

2. One who is pretentious about their own cleverness or knowledge.

   Synonyms: know-it-all, clever dick, smart ass, wise ass, smarty pants, wiseacre; see also Thesaurus:know-it-all

3. One who is obnoxiously self-assured; a show off.

   Synonym: smart ass

4. (rare) A well-dressed person.

Derived terms

• smart-aleck (adjective)

Translations

a wise guy

• German: Naseweis (de) m
• Hebrew: חָכְמוֹלוֹג (he)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Maori: ngutu huia
• Russian: у́мник (ru) m (úmnik)

a know-it-all

• German: Besserwisser (de) m, Klugscheißer (de) m, Neunmalkluger m
• Hebrew: חָכְמוֹלוֹג (he)
• Maori: whakaputa mōhio, ngutu huia
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: espertinho m
• Russian: у́мник (ru) m (úmnik)
• Spanish: listillo (es) m, sabelotodo (es) m

a show off

• German: Angeber (de) m, Aufschneider (de) m, Wichtigtuer (de) m, Großtuer m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}