What is a word for someone who tries to be clever?
What's a word for someone who tries to be clever?
For example you spell something wrong, just a small typo such as one letter in the word wrong, and they call you out about it knowing full well what you meant?
It wouldn't be sarcastic would it?
single-word-requests
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
add a comment |
What's a word for someone who tries to be clever?
For example you spell something wrong, just a small typo such as one letter in the word wrong, and they call you out about it knowing full well what you meant?
It wouldn't be sarcastic would it?
single-word-requests
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
add a comment |
What's a word for someone who tries to be clever?
For example you spell something wrong, just a small typo such as one letter in the word wrong, and they call you out about it knowing full well what you meant?
It wouldn't be sarcastic would it?
single-word-requests
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
What's a word for someone who tries to be clever?
For example you spell something wrong, just a small typo such as one letter in the word wrong, and they call you out about it knowing full well what you meant?
It wouldn't be sarcastic would it?
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
asked Jun 13 '15 at 8:05
user125161user125161
183
183
add a comment |
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Insufferable Know-it-all. Quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Professor Snape: That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself, or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
1
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
add a comment |
I'll offer the more vulgar and somewhat crass smart arse. From BBC News (today, in fact):
She described the crossword proposal as a "typical" gesture for Mr Dick, who she described as "a smart-arse at the best of times"
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
add a comment |
smart al·eck
informal
noun
noun: smart alec
1.
a person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
adjective
adjective: smart alec
1.
irritating as a result of behaving as if one knows everything.
"a smart-aleck answer"
Oxford Dictionaries
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
add a comment |
Given your example specifically about small details, you could call them pedantic (Google searched the term "pedant"):
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
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oldest
votes
Insufferable Know-it-all. Quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Professor Snape: That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself, or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
1
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
add a comment |
Insufferable Know-it-all. Quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Professor Snape: That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself, or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
1
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
add a comment |
Insufferable Know-it-all. Quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Professor Snape: That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself, or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
Insufferable Know-it-all. Quote from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Professor Snape: That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself, or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
answered Jun 13 '15 at 8:28
Prahlad YeriPrahlad Yeri
5933517
5933517
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
1
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
add a comment |
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
1
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
I would be interested to know if that was one of the changes made for the sake of the Scholastic Edition (American) from the original Bloomsbury Edition (British). In the UK the usual idiom is know-all.
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 9:20
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 - The above quote is from the 2004 movie. But even in the Bloomsbury hard-copy I've got (Indian Edition), its know-it-all, though the context is a bit different: ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
– Prahlad Yeri
Jun 13 '15 at 9:33
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
@WS2 Ooh, interesting. I would definitely have said know-it-all was usual, and I'm British. I wonder whether it's regional (I grew up in the south) or generational (I'm 38)... or just me? I can't find anything in a quick search of dictionaries, beyond the fact know-all is chiefly British.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 9:34
1
1
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@Morton Well I'm 70, and born and bred in Norfolk. Know-all is the way it always used to be. After all what can the it possibly refer to in know-it-all?
– WS2
Jun 13 '15 at 10:03
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
@WS2 "Do you know Sanskrit grammar?" "Oh, I know it all". Know-it-all is less grammatical as a noun, now I think about it, but it's easy to see how the "it" would creep in. Assuming you're right about it being an American expression (I've no reason to think otherwise), I wonder if it's cultural influences - for example this song is apparently from 1973, just before I was born - and if so, whether the cultural influences worked on my whole generation or just on me.
– Morton
Jun 13 '15 at 10:19
add a comment |
I'll offer the more vulgar and somewhat crass smart arse. From BBC News (today, in fact):
She described the crossword proposal as a "typical" gesture for Mr Dick, who she described as "a smart-arse at the best of times"
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
add a comment |
I'll offer the more vulgar and somewhat crass smart arse. From BBC News (today, in fact):
She described the crossword proposal as a "typical" gesture for Mr Dick, who she described as "a smart-arse at the best of times"
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
add a comment |
I'll offer the more vulgar and somewhat crass smart arse. From BBC News (today, in fact):
She described the crossword proposal as a "typical" gesture for Mr Dick, who she described as "a smart-arse at the best of times"
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
I'll offer the more vulgar and somewhat crass smart arse. From BBC News (today, in fact):
She described the crossword proposal as a "typical" gesture for Mr Dick, who she described as "a smart-arse at the best of times"
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
answered Jun 17 '15 at 21:06
codinghandscodinghands
1213
1213
add a comment |
add a comment |
smart al·eck
informal
noun
noun: smart alec
1.
a person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
adjective
adjective: smart alec
1.
irritating as a result of behaving as if one knows everything.
"a smart-aleck answer"
Oxford Dictionaries
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
add a comment |
smart al·eck
informal
noun
noun: smart alec
1.
a person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
adjective
adjective: smart alec
1.
irritating as a result of behaving as if one knows everything.
"a smart-aleck answer"
Oxford Dictionaries
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
add a comment |
smart al·eck
informal
noun
noun: smart alec
1.
a person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
adjective
adjective: smart alec
1.
irritating as a result of behaving as if one knows everything.
"a smart-aleck answer"
Oxford Dictionaries
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
smart al·eck
informal
noun
noun: smart alec
1.
a person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
adjective
adjective: smart alec
1.
irritating as a result of behaving as if one knows everything.
"a smart-aleck answer"
Oxford Dictionaries
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
edited Mar 20 at 1:35
Laurel
33.8k667118
33.8k667118
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
answered Jun 13 '15 at 17:35
Ron RoystonRon Royston
85537
85537
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
add a comment |
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
superior answer. don't know the degree of formality; anyway, "insufferable" is fluff.
– MichaelChirico
Jun 14 '15 at 4:19
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
Reference, please (for the OP's and future website users' sake)? Otherwise, a great answer :-)
– Lucky
Jun 18 '15 at 1:34
add a comment |
Given your example specifically about small details, you could call them pedantic (Google searched the term "pedant"):
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
add a comment |
Given your example specifically about small details, you could call them pedantic (Google searched the term "pedant"):
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
add a comment |
Given your example specifically about small details, you could call them pedantic (Google searched the term "pedant"):
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
Given your example specifically about small details, you could call them pedantic (Google searched the term "pedant"):
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
answered Jul 17 '15 at 20:59
DumpcatsDumpcats
346312
346312
add a comment |
add a comment |
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