know-it-all

noun

someone who thinks he knows everything and refuses to accept advice or information from others

• Syn: ↑know-all

• Usage Domain: ↑colloquialism

• Hypernyms: ↑egotist, ↑egoist, ↑swellhead

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I. \\ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ noun also know-all \\ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ (plural know-it-alls also know-alls)

: one that rashly and annoyingly claims to know or acts as if knowing all about everything or nearly everything : one to whom nothing new can apparently be told or who views any advice or suggestion from others as of little or no value or as something that had already been considered and acted on or rejected

loud cocky know-it-alls

a humbling enigma for the know-alls — D.B.W.Lewis

II. adjective also know-all \\“\

Etymology: know-it-all (I), know-all

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a know-it-all

a know-it-all attitude

a know-all manner

should not be so know-it-all about what the Almighty was up to — Gretchen Finletter

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/noh"it awl'/, n.

1. a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

adj.

2. of or characteristic of a know-it-all.

[1930-35]

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know-it-all UK US noun [countable] [singular know-it-all plural know-it-alls] informal

a know-all

Thesaurus: people who are confident, boastful or arrogant_synonym people who are annoying or unpleasant_synonym

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know-it-all «NOH iht _L», noun, adjective. U.S. Slang.

–n.

a person with pretensions to complete or infallible knowledge: »The blasé know-it-all from the large prep school is cynically scornful (New York Times).

–adj.

conceited; pretentious: »a know-it-all attitude.

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n. informal a person who behaves as if they know everything

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/ˈnowətˌɑːl/ noun, pl -alls [count]

informal + disapproving : a person who talks and behaves like someone who knows everything

My neighbor is a real know-it-all, always telling me what to do.

— often used before another noun

my know-it-all neighbor

; called also (Brit) know-all

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ˈknow-it-all [know-it-all know-it-alls] (especially NAmE) (BrE also ˈknow-all) noun (informal, disapproving)

a person who behaves as if they know everything

Look at other dictionaries:

Know-it-all — n. One who knows everything; hence, a person who makes pretension to great knowledge, especially one whose didactic conversational habit conspicuously reveals his belief that he has superior knowledge on many subjects; a wiseacre; a know all; us … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Know-it-all — or know all is an epithet applied to any person who exhibits the belief that he or she possesses a superior intellect and wealth of knowledge, and shows a determination to demonstrate his perceived superiority at every opportunity. ee also* Whiz… … Wikipedia
know-it-all — {n.} A person who acts as if he knows all about everything; someone who thinks no one can tell him anything new. * /After George was elected as class president, he wouldn t take suggestions from anyone; he became a know it all./ Also used like an … Dictionary of American idioms
know-it-all — {n.} A person who acts as if he knows all about everything; someone who thinks no one can tell him anything new. * /After George was elected as class president, he wouldn t take suggestions from anyone; he became a know it all./ Also used like an … Dictionary of American idioms
know-it-all — noun Date: 1895 one who claims to know everything; also one who disdains advice • know it all adjective … New Collegiate Dictionary
Mr. Know-It-All — This article is about a segment of a cartoon series. For the Kelly Clarkson song, see Mr. Know It All. Mr. Know It All was a popular supporting segment of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. There were 50 produced. The segments featured Bullwinkle… … Wikipedia
Little Know It All — Single infobox Name = Little Know it All Artist = Iggy Pop Sum 41 from Album = Skull Ring Released = 2003 Format = CD Recorded = 2002 Genre = Punk rock Length = 3:33 Label = Virgin, Island Records Producer = Greig Nori, Deryck Whibley Chart… … Wikipedia
Know-all — n. One who knows everything; hence, one who makes pretension to great knowledge; a wiseacre; a know it all; usually ironical. [Colloq. or R.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
all — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English all, al, from Old English eall; akin to Old High German all all Date: before 12th century 1. a. the whole amount, quantity, or extent of < needed all the courage they had > < sat up all night > b. as much as … New Collegiate Dictionary
all — See: AFTER ALL, AND ALL, AT ALL, BEAT ALL or BEAT THE DUTCH, FOR ALL, FOR ALL ONE IS WORTH, FOR ALL ONE KNOWS, FOR ALL THE WORLD, FOR GOOD also FOR GOOD AND ALL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE S HEART or WITH ALL ONE S HEART, HAVE ALL ONE S BUTTONS or… … Dictionary of American idioms
all — See: AFTER ALL, AND ALL, AT ALL, BEAT ALL or BEAT THE DUTCH, FOR ALL, FOR ALL ONE IS WORTH, FOR ALL ONE KNOWS, FOR ALL THE WORLD, FOR GOOD also FOR GOOD AND ALL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE S HEART or WITH ALL ONE S HEART, HAVE ALL ONE S BUTTONS or… … Dictionary of American idioms

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know-it-all

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