smart aleck

IPA/smˈɑːt ɐlˈɛk/
IPA/smˈɑːɹt ɐlˈɛk/

smart aleck — 慣用語

1. someone who keeps making rude little jokes or comments to show they think they a

1.慣用語C1
釋義

自作聰明鬼

愛耍小聰明又惹人厭的人

someone who keeps making rude little jokes or comments to show they think they are clever, in a way that annoys other people

例句

During dinner, Rafael made another smart aleck comment about his aunt's cooking.

晚餐時，Rafael 又像個自作聰明鬼一樣，拿阿姨做的菜說風涼話。

smart aleck comment in a family setting

Nora sounded like a smart aleck when she corrected the cashier twice.

Nora 連糾正收銀員兩次，聽起來活像個自作聰明鬼。

sound like a smart aleck after showing off

常見搭配
  • smart aleck comment
  • sound like a smart aleck
  • be a smart aleck
  • act like a smart aleck
同義詞
  • wise guy

    close American insult for someone who talks back too cleverly

  • know-it-all

    broader and less jokey; focuses on acting as if you know everything

  • smarty-pants

    more playful and often used to children

文法句型

be a smart aleck

don't be a smart aleck

act like a smart aleck

sound like a smart aleck

用法筆記

Mostly American and strongly informal. People use it to criticize rude, show-off behaviour, especially after cheeky comments rather than genuine intelligence.

常見錯誤

Our new engineer is a smart aleck, so everyone respects her ideas.
Our new engineer is smart, so everyone respects her ideas.
smart aleck is insulting and suggests showing off, not real ability.
The boss thanked me for being a smart aleck in the meeting.
The boss told me not to be a smart aleck in the meeting.
the phrase is usually criticism, not praise.