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.

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"

by Arminkshipper July 19, 2024