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Vocabulary : Slang : Quizzes : Insulting 1 : smart-arse

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smart-arse British English Offensive

Meaning: a person who's annoying because they try to show how clever and knowledgeable they are (n.) | having an annoying way of trying to seem clever (adj.)

For example:

  • Greg sounds like a bit of a smart-arse when he's in a discussion because he states his opinion as if it's the last word on a topic.

  • We don't need some smart-arse ecology professor coming out here and telling us how to run our farms.

Variety: This is typically used in British English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz:

Someone who's often called a smart-arse probably thinks they are
  1. really sexy
  2. really clever
  3. really tough

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