Know-it-all
n.
One who knows everything;
[1913 Webster +PJC]
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One who knows everything;
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Also,
know a thing or two;
know it all;
know one's way around. Be extremely knowledgeable or experienced. These idioms may be used somewhat differently, expressing overconfidence, as in Helen always knew all the answers, or thought she did, or competence, as in Bob knows a thing or two about battery technology, or ruefulness, as in I thought I knew it all about plants and then I got poison ivy, or genuine expertise, as in John knows his way around tax forms. The first term dates from the early 1900s, the second from the
later 1700s, the third from the
later 1800s, and the fourth, also put as
know one's way about, dates from the 1500s. Also see
know one's stuff; know the ropes; under tricks of the trade.
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
(informal) someone who thinks he knows everything and refuses to accept advice or information from others
Synonym: know-all
A know-it-all is a person who believes that he or she is extremely knowledgeable, and is determined to demonstrate his or her perceived intelligence at every opportunity. A know-it-all boasts about being an expert on a given subject, although his or her actual knowledge is often (but not always) limited or non-existent.
A know-it-all will invariably dispute others. For instance, someone may present a conflicting opinion or make a recommendation, but the know-it-all will act as though it had already been suggested, analyzed, and discounted. A know-it-all may also disregard or devalue advice from someone who actually has the knowledge the know-it-all purports to have.
Know-it-all may also refer to a legitimate expert who flaunts his or her knowledge.
Someone who really does possess a wealth of knowledge on various topics, but does not necessarily flaunt such knowledge, may be called a polymath.
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Copyrights:
![]() | Dictionary. Webster 1913 Dictionary edited by Patrick J. Cassidy Read more | |
![]() | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Know-it-all". Read more |
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