Wise Guy (Noun)
Meaning
An upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The new intern was acting like a wise guy, constantly making snide remarks about his coworkers' projects.
- His friends stopped inviting him to parties because he was always the wise guy who had to make a joke at someone else's expense.
- The teacher had to remind the class clown to stop being a wise guy and focus on the lesson.
- The comedian's stand-up routine relied heavily on his wise guy persona, but some audience members found it off-putting.
- The boss called the young employee into his office to tell him that being a wise guy wasn't going to get him ahead in the company.