know-it-all

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

know +‎ it +‎ all

Noun

know-it-all (plural know-it-alls)

  1. (chiefly US, derogatory) Someone who claims to be knowledgeable or an expert in something, obnoxiously dismissing the opinions, advice, suggestions, etc. of others.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:know-it-all
    We had it all figured out, but this know-it-all marched in with "the correct way of solving it", leaving our experiment in shambles.
    • 2004, Princeton Review, Know It All! Grades 9-12 Reading, The Princeton Review, →ISBN, page 22:
      The same holds true for supporting details—they help you to learn more about a topic. Be a know it all by sharing these details and supporting details with friends.
    • 2005, Pansie Hart Flood, Tiger Turcotte Takes on the Know-it-all, Carolrhoda Books, →ISBN:
      She's a mean, bossy know-it-all.
    • 2012, Joe Ike, How do I relate with a “know-it-all”?, xBusinessServices Corp., page 60:
      Have you ever gone shopping with a Know-It-All girlfriend and she insists, without your consent or consulting you first, to choose your outfits for you?

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