smart-aleck
adj1
Characteristic of a smart aleck.
- smart-aleck remarks
smart aleck
nounalso spelled smart-aleckEtymology 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.
1
One who is given to obnoxious or insolent humor.
2
One who is pretentious about their own cleverness or knowledge.
3
One who is obnoxiously self-assured; a show off.
4
Rare A well-dressed person.
- Derived terms
- smart-aleck, smart-aleckism, smart-alecky
- Related terms
- smartass