smarty-pants n.
1. (orig. US) a general term of usu. light-hearted abuse.
Haxby’s Circus 235: It was at Yanda that some ‘smart boots’ as Dan said, ‘took a tumble’. | ||
S.F. Examiner 14 Nov. 116/3-5: Surprise party Planned for Beepie Blunderpuss Smarty-Pants, Stinky-Pie. | ||
What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 67: Three years later I would be sitting in a Hollywood night club watching my copy boy dance the rhumba with one of those Vassar smarty-pants. | ||
quoted in Rogers A.J. Ayer 170: I do not like that smarty-boots Connolly. | ||
Crack Detective Sept. 🌐 Please bring Miss Smarty Britches down here. | ‘Once Upon a Crime’ in||
Norman’s London (1969) 136: Old smarty-pants crosses the road very slowly and came over to me. | in Police and the Public in||
Champ 68: ‘Little smartpants,’ Dolly muttered. | ||
Cat’s Eye (1989) 121: Carol is a smarty-pants. | ||
(con. 1970) Dazzling Dark (1996) I iv: Little fucking smartie pants, huh. | Danti-Dan in McGuinness||
Corpse at the Haworth Tandoori 146: You’re getting to be a real smartypants. | ||
Age (Melbourne) 9 May 19/3: Then in minces Miss Smarty-drawers, all prim and proper. | ||
Blow Fly (2004) 17: Who invited smarty pants? | ||
Life 90: Three or four real smarty-pants, with the usual bow ties. | ||
ThugLit July-Aug. [ebook] Dane Rowan turns toward me and smiles. ‘Mister Smarty Pants’. | ‘PIN’ in||
Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS) 27 July A4/2: Speakers like Mr Smarty Pants, who teaches them how to stay drug-free. |
2. attrib. use of sense 1.
Sports Winners Spring n.p.: This was a new kind of smile. The only ones we had seen before was always cocksure and smarty-pants. | ‘Base on Balds’ in||
Age (Melbourne) 9 June 16/8: [C]heap word-plays and smarty-drawers remarks. | ||
Homeboy 279: I hope you’re proud, Mr. Smartypants lawyer. | ||
Skinny Dip 322: This smarty-pants white kid and a big nigra feller. |
3. as a term of address, usu. negative.
Big Heat 21: I look at their names when I do the dusting, Smarty-Pants. | ||
Mad mag. Dec. 35: Smartie pants, smartie pants! / Can’t get a ticket for the U.N. Dance! | ||
Dear ‘Herm’ 186: Okay, Smarty Pants, what is the right way to relate that brain-teaser? | ||
After Hours 191: It’s easy for you, smarty-drawers. | ||
Beano Comic Library No. 176 55: Ok, Smarty-Pants – spill the beans! | ||
It Was An Accident 114: ‘All right smartipants,’ she went, ‘what do you want to know before I chew you up and spit you out?’. |
4. (US black) a young man at the outset of his sexual career.
(con. 1940s–50s) Juba to Jive. |