wise guy

American  

noun

1. Informal. a cocksure, conceited, and often insolent person; smart aleck.

   He has a reputation for being a wise guy.

---

wise guy British  

noun

1. informal a person who is given to making conceited, sardonic, or insolent comments

2. a member of the Mafia

---

wise guy Idioms  

1. 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.

---

Other Word Forms

• wise-guy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of wise guy

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

“You wouldn’t hire a wise guy, you wouldn’t hire a made man, like a mobster to work in a D.A.’s office.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2024

In 2012, McGrath won the Tony for best actor in a featured musical role playing wise guy Cookie McGee in “Nice Work If You Can Get It” starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2023

Locke has Charlie’s gentle deportment but with the soft edge of a cool-kid wise guy.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2023

“So does Jones get the tackle credit too,” one wise guy posted in a comment on YouTube.

From Washington Times • Mar. 31, 2021

Outside of that wise guy there were ten boys and ten girls and she knew that they were all coming.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• know-it-all