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 American 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, smartmouth

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)
• Hungarian: ^{(please verify)} szemtelen/pimasz alak/pofa
• Maori: ngutu huia
• Russian: у́мник (ru) m (úmnik)
• Spanish: diablillo; sabihondo m

a know-it-all

• Bulgarian: всезнайко m (vseznajko)
• French: je-sais-tout (fr)
• German: Besserwisser (de) m, Klugscheißer (de) m, Neunmalkluger m
• Hebrew: חָכְמוֹלוֹג (he)
• Hungarian: okostojás (hu), okostóni (hu), nagyokos (hu)
• Indonesian: sok pintar (literally “Pretentiously Smart”) (Slang)
• Italian: saputello (it)
• Macedonian: зајко сезнајко m (zajko seznajko)
• Maori: whakaputa mōhio, ngutu huia
• Portuguese: espertinho m
• Russian: у́мник (ru) m (úmnik), всезнайка (ru) m or f (vseznajka)
• Spanish: listillo (es) m, sabelotodo (es) m
• Swedish: besserwisser (sv) c

a show off

• French: vantard (fr) m
• German: Angeber (de) m, Aufschneider (de) m, Wichtigtuer (de) m, Großtuer m
• Hungarian: nagyzoló/nagyképű alak/fráter
• Macedonian: зајко сезнајко m (zajko seznajko)
• Spanish: creido m, pretencioso (es) m