wise guy
43
7.4
- noun
- /ˈwaɪz ˌɡaɪ/
- Offensive
:
sabelotodo
- Okay, be a wise guy all your life.
- OK, wise guy
- Right, wise guy
- Laugh it up, wise guy
Because how would it be if you had two wise guys?
- Because how would it be if you had two wise guys?
- My dad's the mature, grown wise guy.
Examples
-
"Honestly, George, I'm surprised at that kind of wise-guy stuff coming from you."
Fiction book (1993) -
"What are you, some wise guy?" Joe says.
Fiction book (2000) -
Oh, we got a wise guy here.
-
"All right, wise guy," Ken said to Greg.
Fiction book (1991) -
Don't be a wise guy.
-
I don't think there's anything quite so stupid as a wise guy trying to believe what he wants to believe.
-
Brandt: Think you're some kind of wise guy, right?
Fiction book (1998) -
Who's the wise guy?
-
Vitti and another wise guy pass through the cafeteria line with their trays.
Fiction book (2002) -
Don't be a wise guy; it's better to stay humble sometimes.
Synonyms
30
7.7
A person who acts like they know everything and annoys others
27
9.3
A person who annoys others by saying sarcastic or rude things
8
9.9
A person who makes rude, clever remarks to annoy others
5
7.5
A person who acts as if they know everything and annoys others
2
9.9
A person who makes rude clever remarks to annoy 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
4.6
A small round coloured sweet or a cheeky clever person
1
9.9
A person who acts like they know everything and makes rude comments
1
7.1
A person who often makes short funny or sarcastic remarks
A person who annoys others by acting like they know everything and making sarcastic remarks
A person who acts smart to annoy or show off
A person or remark that is clever but rude
A person who often makes short clever remarks
A person who often says short clever comments to make people laugh
How Insolent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The basic components 'wise' + 'guy' can lead a learner to guess 'a smart person', so there is a clear compositional link; however the attitudinal, sarcastic sense ('smart-aleck' or impertinent person) is an ironic extension that is not fully predictable from the parts. Additional ambiguity (e.g., informal gangster sense) and pragmatic nuance make the specific intended meaning likely unclear to a B1 learner without exposure.
Etymology
The phrase wise guy may come from people teasing someone who always acts very wise, as in trying to seem clever, so that guy gets called a wise guy. That's why 'wise guy' now means 'a person who makes cheeky or rude remarks'.