What is the difference between wise man and wise guy

It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Two very similar expressions yet quite opposite connotations. Wise man is an older phrase but wise guy is a newer one. I found two possible connections to wise man. There is the surname Wiseman which is a long-established surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, and derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "wys", meaning "wise", and "mann", a man, and was originally given as a nickname to a wise and learned man, perhaps one who was regularly consulted by other village inhabitants on matters pertaining to law or business transactions.

Wise men is also mentioned as another name for biblical magi who were, in the Gospel of Matthew and Christian tradition, a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Opposite connotations of the words from thefreedictionary :. Etymonline says:.

Wise man was in Old English. Wise guy is attested from , American English The "wise" in "wise guy" is sarcastic. The surface meaning of "wise guy" is synonymous to "wise man," but in actual usage "wise guy" ALWAYS refers to someone who is making a sardonic comment, implying that he thinks he is somehow smarter than others. For the same reason that "digital computing" doesn't mean counting on your fingers. English expressions grow out of usage, not logic or etymology.

An etymological explanation might be that the word wise is related to the word wit. So, perhaps the sense of wise as in wise guy , wiseacre , crack wise , etc. In other words, what are now two words are still not perfectly differentiated. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top.

No comments Permalink Share No comments. T he wise guy probably tells better jokes. W hat is the difference between Mortgage and a loan? W hat does the Bible say about a Wise man? W hat's the difference between a black man and a white man? A lright, who's the wise guy? An etymological explanation might be that the word wise is related to the word wit. So, perhaps the sense of wise as in wise guy , wiseacre , crack wise , etc.

In other words, what are now two words are still not perfectly differentiated. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group.

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How do these two phrases happen to have different connotations one positive, other negative? Is it possible to find an explanation regarding to their origins? Improve this question. Community Bot 1. I've heard "smart cookie" used both straight and sarcastically, but "smart aleck" only sarcastically.

Because language is unpredictable. You are not the first to ask this question. Oh, a wise guy, eh? Show 2 more comments.