think oneself clever; smart aleck
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to think oneself clever and act presumptuously; to be a smart aleck
derogatoryUsed to criticize someone who overestimates their own intelligence and acts rashly or shows off their abilities, often resulting in mistakes. Often used as predicate or attributive.
Nǐ你
bié别
zì自
zuò作
cōng聪
míng明
le了
，
zhè这
gè个
fāng方
àn案
lǎo老
bǎn板
zǎo早
jiù就
pī批
zhǔn准
le了
。
Stop thinking you're so clever; the boss already approved this plan.
Tā他
zì自
zuò作
cōng聪
míng明
de地
xiū修
gǎi改
le了
dài代
mǎ码
，
jié结
guǒ果
xì系
tǒng统
bēng崩
kuì溃
le了
。
He presumptuously modified the code, and as a result, the system crashed.
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Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
xū需
yào要
dà大
jiā家
shāng商
liang量
，
nǐ你
bú不
yào要
zì自
zuò作
cōng聪
míng明
。
This matter requires discussion with everyone; don't think you know best.
Nà那
gè个
zì自
zuò作
cōng聪
míng明
de的
jiā家
huo伙
zhōng终
yú于
cháng尝
dào到
le了
shī失
bài败
de的
zī滋
wèi味
。
That smart aleck finally tasted the flavor of failure.