smarty-pants

[smahr-tee-pants]

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. smart aleck.

   He's just a smarty-pants, showing off for some girls.

2. a smart person.

   My kid is a super smarty-pants who continues to get 4s on her state exams.

3. (used as a mildly abusive term of address or to refer to someone with contempt).

   Who invited that smarty-pants--everyone hates her!

smarty-pants

/ ˈsmɑːtɪˌbuːts, ˈsmɑːtɪˌpænts /

noun

1. informal,  (functioning as singular) a would-be clever person

Word History and Origins

Origin of smarty-pants¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Everyone is corrupt, these smarty-pants nod, while touching each other a bit more than they should.

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In other words: Hey, all you smarty-pants liberals — you’re the real bigots here!

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Trump makes them feel they can stick it to those smarty-pants liberals who they imagine are laughing at them, and all without having to put in the work of learning stuff and knowing things.

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I folded my hands together on top of my desk and nodded toward my bedroom door, hoping Miss Smarty-Pants could take a hint.

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Those smarty-pants Yippies understood that.

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