clever clogs

noun

Somebody who is rather too clever; a smart aleck; sometimes used as an epithet.

Meanings

nounclever clogs (plural clever clogs)

alternative cleverclogs · alternative clever-clogs

  1. IrelandUKcolloquialSomebody who is rather too clever; a smart aleck; sometimes used as an epithet.

    'Yes, perfect. Mr Clever Clogs has done it again!'

    2013, Lynda Bellingham, Tell Me Tomorrow, Simon & Schuster, page 409
    2 more examples

    'Not in itself,' said the Doctor, holding the gun at arm's length. 'But you tell me, what happens if some clever clogs gets this in his lab? Finds out how it works? The human race gets the secret of Dalek weapons. You'll all be dead by Wednesday week.'

    2006, Gareth Roberts, I Am a Dalek, BBC Books, page 39

    'All right then, clever-clogs,' said Yasmin. 'Any idea which one?'

    2011, Tom Bradman, Tony Bradman, Space School: Blast Off!, Bloomsbury (A & C Black), page 49

    Synonyms: Buddha, clever dick, know-all, know-it-all, smart aleck, smart ass, smarty, smarty pants

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSomebody who is rather too clever; a smart aleck; sometimes used as an epithet.

More synonyms by meaning

nounan intellectual who is ostentatiously and irritatingly knowledgeable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

German Schlaumeier, Schlauberger
  • Schlaumeieraleck
  • Schlaubergeraleck
  • Neunmalklugeraleck
  • Neunmalklugealeck
Polish mądrala, mędrek
  • mądralaaleck
  • mędrekaleck
Cite this entry
APA

clever clogs. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clever%20clogs

MLA

“clever clogs.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clever%20clogs. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clever clogs,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clever%20clogs.

Source: clever clogs on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.