Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. one who sees themselves as cleverer than they really are.

1958		C. Lee diary 9 Feb. in Eight Bells & Top Masts (2001) 52: Another thing, he said, don’t be a smartarse.
1961		J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Pony! 71: Nobody loves a smart-ass.
1972		D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 16: A couple of fifteen-year-old smart-asses.
1974		D. Ireland Burn 9: Smartarse. Anyway you’re not stupid.
1985		J. Sullivan ‘To Hull and Back’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] It will [...] pass through many hands until some smart arse discovers it’s worthless.
1985		R.G. Barrett You Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids (1989) 85: They were all too pissed and just a bunch of smart-arses.
1989		C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 48: All right, smartass, what was that name?
1990		Eble Campus Sl. Oct. 4: smart butt – someone who acts cocky, sarcastic, flippant.
1990		T. Winton Human Torpedo 120: Ouch! Smart arse.
1998		(con. 1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 117: ‘Now all I want to do is go fishing and not think about your problems, old chap,’ I said, acting like a smart-ass.
1999		Indep. on Sun. Real Life 20 June 5: The same quick-witted smart-arse who foraged in Fergie’s fridge?
2004		C. Hiaasen Skinny Dip 129: Could be some smart-ass [...] got the bright idea to shake you down.
2006		P. Shannon Davey Darling 43: I’ve told you before not to be such a smartarse, haven’t I?
2011		J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 123: ‘Fuck off, smartarse,’ snaps Sonny.
2012		A. Prentice ‘The Break’ in Crime Factory: Hard Labour [ebook] If Matt hadn’t already hit someone tonight, he might have done something really dumb and clobbered the tall smartarse.
2015		S. King Finders Keepers (2016) 115: You never miss a chance to be a smartass, do you?
2017		L. McInerney Blood Miracles 36: There’s physical effort in being a smartarse today.
2018		G. Disher Kill Shot [ebook] [T]he second cop, a young smartarse.
2020		S.A. Crosby Blacktop Wasteland 176: ‘It ain’t taking advantage, if you want it,’ he said. [...] ‘Smart-ass,’ Kia said.
2021		P. Papathanasiou Stoning 159: ‘Smart arse,’ he spat.
2023		M. Herron Secret Hours 353: ‘All right, smart-arse.’ [...] The smart-arse thus honoured couldn’t help the smirk reaching her lips.

2. in attrib. use of sense 1.

1984		Atlanta Constitution (GA) 26 Aug. 77/1: You are a smart-ass white boy.
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 253: Smart-arse bitch.
2010		L. Berney Gutshot Straight [ebook] ‘He gonna shut that smart-ass mouth of yours once and for all’.
2015		S. King Finders Keepers (2016) 9: Sonofabitch, he was thinking. Smartass sonofabitch.

3. (US campus) a hard-working, academically successful student; a strong, offensive male.

1967–8

Baker et al. CUSS 199: Smart ass A person who studies a great deal. A strong, often offensive male. A person who does well academically.

4. self-confidence; cockiness.

1972		D. Jenkins Semi-Tough (1978) 303: It was always old Eighty-eight for sex and smart-ass, and it was always old twenty-three for sweetness and understanding.
1996		(con. 1964-65) B. Thorpe Sex and Thugs and Rock ’n’ Roll 15: Only a small touch of smartarse in his tone.
2019		G. Disher Peace 39: A hint of smartarse in [the words].