smart aleck

or smart al·ec

[ smahrt al-ik ]

noun

, Informal.

1. wise guy.

smart aleck

/ ˈælɪk /

noun

1. informal.
   an irritatingly oversmart person

Derived Forms

• ˈsmart-ˌaleck, adjective

Other Words From

• smart-al·eck·y smart-al·eck adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of smart aleck¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; generic use of Aleck, nickname for Alexander

Word History and Origins

Origin of smart aleck¹

C19: from Aleck, Alec, short for Alexander

Idioms and Phrases

An impudent or obnoxiously self-assertive individual, a wise guy, as in New teachers often have a hard time coping with the smart alecks in their classes . This expression, dating from the mid-1800s, probably alluded to a person of this description who was named Alec or Alexander, but his identity has been lost.

Example Sentences

So much of the promise of the show is that you have a smart aleck detective who will never stop goofing around.

From The Daily Beast

In the series' pilot, smart-aleck ex-lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) tells Abed that he has Asperger's syndrome.

From The Daily Beast

The result was a greasy coat collar and the general tout ensemble of the genus "smart Aleck."

From Project Gutenberg

For if we don't run across that bag mighty soon we're bound to make it warm for this Smart Aleck.

From Project Gutenberg

Time was you batted a young smart aleck down, told him to go get dry behind the ears before he shot off his mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

Before he got there he started a guessing contest in that smart-aleck burg.

From Project Gutenberg

"The young squirt was always a Smart-Aleck and a blow-hard," he said.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• know-it-all
• wise guy