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wise guy

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noun
  1. Informal. a cocksure, conceited, and often insolent person; smart aleck: He has a reputation for being a wise guy.
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Origin of wise guy

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900
Also called wiseacre.
Related formswise-guy, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

crookhoodlumknow-it-allmobsterbigmouthcriminalhoodsmarty-pantsmafiosowiseacrewiseasswisenheimer
British Dictionary definitions for wise guy

wise guy

noun
  1. informal a person who is given to making conceited, sardonic, or insolent comments
  2. US a member of the Mafia
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with wise guy

wise guy

An obnoxious know-it-all, a person who makes sarcastic or annoying remarks, as in the teacher was delighted that the worst wise guy in the class was moving out of town. [Slang; second half of 1800s] Also see smart aleck.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.