WISE GUY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does wise guy mean? 

• WISE GUY (noun)
  The noun WISE GUY has 1 sense:

1. an upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments

  Familiarity information: WISE GUY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WISE GUY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

smart aleck; weisenheimer; wise guy; wiseacre; wisenheimer

Hypernyms ("wise guy" is a kind of...):

upstart (an arrogant or presumptuous person)

 Context examples 

"Makin' free to spit out what's in me," Matt said one day, "I beg to state that you was a wise guy all right when you paid the price you did for that dog. You clean swindled Beauty Smith on top of pushin' his face in with your fist."

(White Fang, by Jack London)