wise apple

See also: wiseapple and wise-apple

English

Alternative forms

• wiseapple, wise-apple

Pronunciation

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Noun

wise apple (plural wise apples)

1. (idiomatic) A smart aleck.
   • 1943 February 26, Staff Sgt. Dick Jones, “Air-Lines”, in The Independent, US, retrieved 22 October 2010, page 11:

     Private Wise Guy Bly is the type of guy who in civilian life was known as a "wise apple".

   • 1980 February 25, Edwin Pope, “Yanks Pull It Off”, in St. Petersburg Independent, US, retrieved 22 October 2010, page C1:

     "The Americans did not win at Bunker Hill," this wise apple said.

   • 2001 November 25, “This Team Continues its March toward Being Best in Canes History”, in Miami Herald, page 1C:

     As some wise apple said, comparisons are odious, and never more so than with a job not yet done.

2. (idiomatic, attributive, usually hyphenated) Having the manner of a smart aleck.
   • 1966 July 13, “Ann Landers Answers Your Problems”, in Times-News, US, retrieved 22 Oct. 2010, page 6:

     She gave me a wise-apple smirk and asked, "And how are things at YOUR house?"

Synonyms

• wise guy, wise-ass