( BrE ) ( NAmE smart aleck ) / ˈsmɑːt ælɪk; NAmE ˈsmɑːrt/ (also ˈsmarty-pants ) ( BrE also ˈsmart-arse ) ( NAmE also ˈsmart-ass ) noun
( informal , disapproving ) a person who thinks they are very clever and likes to show people this in an annoying way
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from smart + Alec , diminutive of the given name Alexander .