1North American A person who makes sarcastic or cheeky remarks to demonstrate their cleverness.
four years ago the wise guys, the pundits, and the pollsters were all ready to write the president off
Example sentencesExamples
He was no wise guy or rebel, but rather was on his best behavior, knowing that his commercial future and fame were on the line, and that he would need to appeal to an older demographic with the passing of time.
Well alright mister wise guy, if you're so clever you tell us what colour it should be!
He continued to play numerous characters alternating between lead and supporting roles in various comedy flicks usually seen as a loveable slob, a bumbling schemer or an overbearing wise guy.
Some wise guy had a tape measure with him and took a reading.
Well, I have felt he's been a wise guy for some time and it certainly appears he's being that way now with his interlocutors.
2US A member of the Mafia.
〈美〉黑手党人
he was the boss of the biggest crime family in the country—300 wise guys
Example sentencesExamples
Could be any inner-city gang member or wise guy.
Jimmy is an ex-con and small-time wise guy running a grocery business.
In my mind, I pictured him to be a little Italian wise guy, like the mafia hit man that's always the squealer on someone in those old movies.
While other kids were flipping burgers, he was hiring himself out to local wise guys as muscle or masterminding his own bizarre capers.
His mob family is undergoing an anarchic growth spurt, as wise guys jailed in the 1980s are suddenly free to get back in the game.
Definition of wise guy in US English:
wise guy
nounˈwaɪz ˌɡaɪˈwīz ˌɡī
informal
1North American A person who speaks and behaves as if they know more than others.
自作聪明的人；自命不凡的人
four years ago the wise guys, the pundits, and the pollsters were all ready to write the president off
Example sentencesExamples
Well, I have felt he's been a wise guy for some time and it certainly appears he's being that way now with his interlocutors.
Some wise guy had a tape measure with him and took a reading.
He was no wise guy or rebel, but rather was on his best behavior, knowing that his commercial future and fame were on the line, and that he would need to appeal to an older demographic with the passing of time.
He continued to play numerous characters alternating between lead and supporting roles in various comedy flicks usually seen as a loveable slob, a bumbling schemer or an overbearing wise guy.
Well alright mister wise guy, if you're so clever you tell us what colour it should be!
2US A member of the Mafia.
〈美〉黑手党人
he was the boss of the biggest crime family in the country—300 wise guys
Example sentencesExamples
In my mind, I pictured him to be a little Italian wise guy, like the mafia hit man that's always the squealer on someone in those old movies.
While other kids were flipping burgers, he was hiring himself out to local wise guys as muscle or masterminding his own bizarre capers.
His mob family is undergoing an anarchic growth spurt, as wise guys jailed in the 1980s are suddenly free to get back in the game.
Jimmy is an ex-con and small-time wise guy running a grocery business.