Definition of smart alec in English:

smart alec

(North American smart aleck)

noun ˈsmɑːt alɪk

informal

A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
the kid in the front row is a smart alec, always being funny
as modifier a smart alec answer
Example sentencesExamples
- I hate people who pretend to be smart alecks just because they managed to sprout a useless proverb.
- No-one likes a smart aleck, or so the saying goes.
- Most smart alecs learn to make others laugh because they have to.
- DeMille read the review, she said, and wired: ‘If you think you can do better and you're not a smart aleck, come to Hollywood and try.’
- Never felt green-eyed rage at those smart alecks who zip straight past the luggage carousel with their zippy little wheelies?
- So if you establish yourself as a smart aleck who can do excellent stand-up comedy, it would hardly do to exclude it from your fiction.
- Is this a full-time venture or do all of these smart alecks have day jobs?
- Why are they being smart alecks in questioning our country's laws?
- Neighbours are turning on neighbours, smart alecs ringing up reporting someone lighting a cigarette or pipe.
- The problem is, there's always a smart alec who'll ask if my first name is Eggs.
- City slicker smart alecs such as Burnside don't go down well in this neck of the woods - a constituency comprising a huge swathe of rural Ulster.
- I wasn't being a smart aleck, it was just my answer.
- Being first an engineer and second a smart aleck, I pointed out that important data was missing.
- His large physique, combined with an angry look, always stopped a smart alec commenting about his ‘skirt’.
- But, basically what happened is the driving up and down the freeway, he was aware of surveillance teams, was waving at them and being, you know, kind of a smart aleck and so they finally decided that they ought to just pull him in.
- The last one was the quiet kid who sat in the back of the class, this one's the kid in the front row, the smart alec big - mouth, always being funny.
- The KMT is not a very clever organization, but showing themselves off as smart alecks, they have brought harm to us all.
- Of course, a woman would do well to retain her sense of humour to tackle a difficult situation, such as when she is accosted by a smart aleck.
- Then again, if you think you can get away with simply cracking wise and changing the channel, God knows how to deal with smart alecks like you.
- The carrot-chomping smart aleck is making a comeback - as a futuristic, slimmed-down superhero.
Synonyms
informal wise guy, smarty-pants, smarty
British informal know-all, clever clogs, clever Dick, smart-arse, smarty-boots
North American informal know-it-all, smart-ass
archaic wiseacre

Derivatives

smart-alecky

adjective ˈsmɑːtˌalɪkiˈsmɑrdˈæləki

informal

Denoting or characteristic of a person who behaves as if they know everything.
he seemed a vain, smart-alecky academic
Example sentencesExamples
- the smart-alecky tone can grate a little
- I soon regretted it, however, as what my grandfather would have called ‘a smart-alecky stunt’ and I was relieved when the tape was returned.
- It's all very well being smart-alecky about Burns living in an attic but, in this day and age, there's no patronage.
- I'm more familiar with the extroverted, smart-alecky Spider Man than the shy, introverted Peter Parker.

Origin

Mid 19th century: from smart + Alec, diminutive of the given name Alexander.

单词	smart alec
释义	Definition of smart alec in English: smart alec (North American smart aleck) noun ˈsmɑːt alɪk informal A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything. the kid in the front row is a smart alec, always being funny as modifier a smart alec answer Example sentencesExamples I hate people who pretend to be smart alecks just because they managed to sprout a useless proverb. No-one likes a smart aleck, or so the saying goes. Most smart alecs learn to make others laugh because they have to. DeMille read the review, she said, and wired: ‘If you think you can do better and you're not a smart aleck, come to Hollywood and try.’ Never felt green-eyed rage at those smart alecks who zip straight past the luggage carousel with their zippy little wheelies? So if you establish yourself as a smart aleck who can do excellent stand-up comedy, it would hardly do to exclude it from your fiction. Is this a full-time venture or do all of these smart alecks have day jobs? Why are they being smart alecks in questioning our country's laws? Neighbours are turning on neighbours, smart alecs ringing up reporting someone lighting a cigarette or pipe. The problem is, there's always a smart alec who'll ask if my first name is Eggs. City slicker smart alecs such as Burnside don't go down well in this neck of the woods - a constituency comprising a huge swathe of rural Ulster. I wasn't being a smart aleck, it was just my answer. Being first an engineer and second a smart aleck, I pointed out that important data was missing. His large physique, combined with an angry look, always stopped a smart alec commenting about his ‘skirt’. But, basically what happened is the driving up and down the freeway, he was aware of surveillance teams, was waving at them and being, you know, kind of a smart aleck and so they finally decided that they ought to just pull him in. The last one was the quiet kid who sat in the back of the class, this one's the kid in the front row, the smart alec big - mouth, always being funny. The KMT is not a very clever organization, but showing themselves off as smart alecks, they have brought harm to us all. Of course, a woman would do well to retain her sense of humour to tackle a difficult situation, such as when she is accosted by a smart aleck. Then again, if you think you can get away with simply cracking wise and changing the channel, God knows how to deal with smart alecks like you. The carrot-chomping smart aleck is making a comeback - as a futuristic, slimmed-down superhero. Synonyms informal wise guy, smarty-pants, smarty British informal know-all, clever clogs, clever Dick, smart-arse, smarty-boots North American informal know-it-all, smart-ass archaic wiseacre Derivatives smart-alecky adjective ˈsmɑːtˌalɪkiˈsmɑrdˈæləki informal Denoting or characteristic of a person who behaves as if they know everything. he seemed a vain, smart-alecky academic Example sentencesExamples the smart-alecky tone can grate a little I soon regretted it, however, as what my grandfather would have called ‘a smart-alecky stunt’ and I was relieved when the tape was returned. It's all very well being smart-alecky about Burns living in an attic but, in this day and age, there's no patronage. I'm more familiar with the extroverted, smart-alecky Spider Man than the shy, introverted Peter Parker. Origin Mid 19th century: from smart + Alec, diminutive of the given name Alexander.
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