smart (redirected from smarter)

get smart (with someone)

Fig. to become fresh with someone; to talk back to someone. Don't you get smart with me! If you get smart again, I'll bop you.

See also: get

smart ass

someone who makes wisecracks and acts cocky. (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion.) Some smart ass came in here and asked for a sky hook. Don't be such a smart ass!

See also: ass

smart at something

to suffer the pains of something. Over an hour later she was still smarting at his cruel remarks. For many days Ted smarted at the scolding he got.

smart from something 

1. Lit. to get a stinging pain from something. His arm smarted from many mosquito bites. Her legs smarted from the scratches she got from walking through the briars.

2. Fig. to suffer mental distress from something. She smarted from wounded vanity. He smarted for hours from the rude rebuff.

smart guy

someone who acts cocky or rude. All right, smart guy, see if you like this one. Some smart guy put chewing gum on this bench.

See also: guy

smart money

money belonging to smart or clever people. Most of the smart money is going into utility stocks right now. Watch and see what the smart money is doing.

See also: money

smart mouth someone

who makes wisecracks; a cocky person who speaks out of turn. Don't be a smart mouth with me! Mr. Atkins is going to get a reputation as a smart mouth.

See also: mouth

smart under something

to suffer stinging pain under something. The sailor's back smarted under the blows of the lash. Ted smarted under the lash for his wrongdoings.

You think you're so smart!

Inf. You act as if you know far more than you do. (Also with subjects other than second person.) You think you're so smart! You don't know anything! Boy! He thinks he's so smart!

See also: think

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a smart alec/aleck  (informal)

someone who is always trying to seem more clever than everyone else in a way that is annoying Some smart alec in the audience kept making witty remarks during my talk.

a smart bomb

a bomb that guides itself by receiving signals from the ground Laser-guided smart bombs were hitting targets only about 60 per cent of the time.

See also: bomb

a smart cookie  (American)

someone who is clever and good at dealing with difficult situations If anyone can make this company succeed, it's Kathy - she's one smart cookie.

See also: cookie

a smart-arse  (British very informal) also a smart-ass (American very informal)

someone who is always trying to seem more clever than everyone else in a way that is annoying OK, smart-arse, do you have a better idea? (British very informal)

a/your smart mouth  (American informal)

if someone has a smart mouth, they speak in a way that is too clever and does not show enough respect for other people If you aren't more careful, your smart mouth could lose you your job.

See also: mouth

It's easy to be wise after the event.  (British, American & Australian) also It's easy to be smart after the fact. (American)

something that you say which means that it is easy to understand what you could have done to prevent something bad from happening after it has happened In retrospect I suppose we should have realised that she was in trouble and tried to help her, but then I suppose it's easy to be wise after the event. People often tell me they'd never have taken out a loan if they'd thought about it more carefully - but it's easy to be smart after the fact.

See also: after, easy, event, wise

smart drugs  (British & Australian)

drugs which make you more intelligent or make you think more clearly I have my exams in two weeks - I could use some smart drugs.

See also: drug

street smarts  (American)

the knowledge and experience you need in order to deal with difficult and dangerous situations in a city The kids around here may not be much good at reading or writing, but they sure have a lot of street smarts.

See also: street

the smart money 

1. if the smart money is on something happening, or on someone or something being successful, people with a good knowledge about it believe that is what will happen Hurt's best-actor award surprised even Hollywood insiders - the smart money was on Jack Nicholson. The smart money says that the industry will end up drastically reduced.

2. money which is spent by people who are very successful in business The smart money is coming back into mortgages as the best investment right now.

See also: money