be too clever by half
be too clever by half
To be too contrived or arrogant in one's cleverness or intelligence, to the point of being irritating to others. Primarily heard in UK. I think every adolescent goes through a stage of being too clever by half, thinking of themselves as the only person who has things really figured out. The phones people use these days are all too clever by half—I can barely even use them to make phone calls!
See also: by, clever, half
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- drive (one) round the twist
- How bout them apples?
- How 'bout them apples?
- how do you like them apples
- how do you like them apples?
- balls on about (something)
- bang on about (something)
- nabe