too clever by half

to be too confident of your own intelligence in a way that annoys other people. (British variant of "too smart by half.")

'Too clever by half' was how one former teacher described him.

too clever by half by Elvira Pepper August 7, 2011

too clever by half

annoyingly proud of one's intelligence or skill and in danger of overreaching oneself.

"he always was too clever by half"

too clever by half by Arminkshipper July 19, 2024