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smart aleck - 3 dictionary results
smart aleck
[al-ik] 
–noun
| 1. | an obnoxiously conceited person. |
| 2. | a wise guy. |
Origin:
1860–65, Americanism; generic use of Aleck, nickname for Alexander
1860–65, Americanism; generic use of Aleck, nickname for Alexander
Related forms:
smart-al⋅eck⋅y, smart-aleck, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To smart aleck
| smart al·eck (āl'ĭk) n. Informal
[Perhaps after Aleck Hoag, 19th-century American confidence man and thief.] smart'-al'eck (smärt'āl'ĭk), smart'-al'eck·y (-ĭ-kē) adj. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
smart aleck
An impudent or obnoxiously self-assertive individual, a wise guy, as in New teachers often have a hard time coping with the smart alecks in their classes. This expression, dating from the mid-1800s, probably alluded to a person of this description who was named Alec or Alexander, but his identity has been lost.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
