clever clogs
1
8.5
- noun
- Offensive
:
sabelotodo
- The clever clogs in the group was quick to answer even the toughest questions.
Examples
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Oh, clever clogs, Headmaster.
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I can't stand that clever clogs who always has to show off his knowledge in class.
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- Well worked out, clever clogs.
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Whenever she speaks, the clever clogs makes sure everyone knows how smart she is.
Synonyms
30
7.7
A person who acts like they know everything and annoys others
28
5.7
A person who thinks they are always right and annoys others
12
9.6
Acting annoyingly clever by making rude or sarcastic remarks
5
7.5
A person who acts as if they know everything and annoys others
2
9.6
A person who acts as if they know everything and annoys others
1
9.4
A person who says clever things to annoy or upset others
1
9.1
Acting rude and clever to annoy others
A person who acts smart to annoy or show off
A person who annoys others by acting like they know everything and making sarcastic remarks
Antonyms
How Boastful
- Offensive
28
5.7
- Offensive
1
8.5
- Offensive
5
7.5
- Offensive
30
7.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
clever + clogs
While the adjective 'clever' clearly signals intelligence, the plural noun 'clogs' literally refers to footwear and does not transparently license a meaning 'person who shows off'. The phrase is a British colloquial idiom where 'clogs' functions as an idiomatic tag for a person, and the sarcastic/pejorative sense ('annoyingly or ostentatiously clever') is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The noun clever clogs may come from a funny image of someone in heavy wooden shoes, clogs, acting very clever and trying to show off. That picture makes it easy to see why the phrase means 'an annoying know-it-all'.