# Smart Asses Unite **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262 "2008-05-14T08:16:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/21 "2008-05-14T14:30:49Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] That’s “better than I”. [/QUOTE] My apologies, your royal highness. Let me rephrase: Would you have any Grey Poupon? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/22 "2008-05-14T14:42:00Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] That’s “better than I”. [/QUOTE] Smart ass. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/23 "2008-05-14T14:48:40Z")
Just remember: Everyone likes a little ass but nobody likes a little smart-ass. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/24 "2008-05-14T14:49:56Z")
As a lifelong smartass, I find the idea highly sneer-worthy that smartasses would ever “unite” long enough to do _anything_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/25 "2008-05-14T14:52:33Z")
[QUOTE=sinjin] Just remember: Everyone likes a little ass but nobody likes a little smart-ass. [/QUOTE] Hey, I know some guys that like larger asses, not just little asses. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/26 "2008-05-14T14:59:51Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Not when he is using a common phrase that is already in the [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=You+think+you're+better+than+me%3F!). [/QUOTE] Almost as authoritative as Wikipedia — except for fucking up a Shakespeare quote. (Go ahead and Google. You’ll enjoy it.) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/27 "2008-05-14T14:59:55Z")
It looks like a case of arson. Somebody here has been arsin’ around. /stolen from Wallace & Gromit ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/28 "2008-05-14T15:07:34Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] This thread has touched me in a deep way. I’m getting all weepy here. I only have one question for you guys: You think you’re better than me? [/QUOTE] Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/29 "2008-05-14T15:13:27Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Almost as authoritative as Wikipedia — except for fucking up a Shakespeare quote. (Go ahead and Google. You’ll enjoy it.) [/QUOTE] Common usage would denote that is does not necessarily follow proper English. I like the “Almost as authoritative” part. That is setting the bar properly low. 😃 My Google skills have failed me; I couldn’t find the link you hinted at. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/30 "2008-05-14T15:20:38Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! [/QUOTE] Uncle Leo? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/31 "2008-05-14T15:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! Mandelbaum! [/QUOTE] Or as a mathematical smart ass would say,"Mandelbrot! Mandelbrot! Mandelbrot! ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/32 "2008-05-14T15:27:28Z")
[QUOTE=sinjin] Just remember: Everyone likes a little ass but nobody likes a little smart-ass. [/QUOTE] Comments on my size are unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/33 "2008-05-14T15:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] What do you get when you cross an owl and a bungy cord? My Ass! [/QUOTE] I don’t get it. Does that mean I’m out? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/34 "2008-05-14T16:10:50Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] As a lifelong smartass, I find the idea highly sneer-worthy that smartasses would ever “unite” long enough to do _anything_. [/QUOTE] Now we’re going all one-wordish. :mad: [American Heritage](http://www.bartleby.com/61/20/S0492000.html) and [Cambridge](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=smartarse*1+0&dict=I) both hyphenate. I see Cambridge uses “smart-arse.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/35 "2008-05-14T16:11:28Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] My Google skills have failed me; I couldn’t find the link you hinted at. [/QUOTE] I don’t mind spelling it out. The link you gave had a mangled Shakespeare “quote” that it used to illustrate how common the expression allegedly is. Problem is, it never appears in Romeo and Juliet as cited — or any other Shakespeare play — not even close. Google will give you the play, where you can search for key phrases to find out what expression was actually used. Your cite had this to say: Used in the Shakespearen play “Romeo and Juliet”: Montague: So you say you are better than me? Capulet: In fact, I do. Montague: You lie!The play actually goes like this: ABRAHAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON I do bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON [Aside to GREGORY] Is the law of our side, if I say ay? GREGORY No. SAMPSON No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir. GREGORY Do you quarrel, sir? ABRAHAM Quarrel sir! no, sir. SAMPSON If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. ABRAHAM No better. SAMPSON Well, sir. GREGORY Say ‘better:’ here comes one of my master’s kinsmen. SAMPSON Yes, better, sir. ABRAHAM You lie. Your source sucks. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/36 "2008-05-14T16:27:46Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I don’t mind spelling it out. The link you gave had a mangled Shakespeare “quote” that it used to illustrate how common the expression allegedly is. Problem is, it never appears in Romeo and Juliet as cited — or any other Shakespeare play — not even close. Google will give you the play, where you can search for key phrases to find out what expression was actually used. Your cite had this to say: … Your source sucks. [/QUOTE] Yes it does stink, I am surprised someone created a cite there. I cannot access the UD from here, so I just copied the link from Google without reading it. Thank you for the details, I find the UD useful for slang and catch phrases, nothing serious. I am now curious if the contributer on the UD saw some modern take on Romeo and Juliet. Jim ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/37 "2008-05-14T16:33:54Z")
And what of the wise acres? Will no one think of them? You wise asses always thinking you’re so much better than everyone. Typical! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/38 "2008-05-14T16:36:05Z")
The play actually goes like this: ABRAHAM You got some sort of problem motherfucker? SAMPSON Yo momma got some problem! ABRAHAM Lemme ask you again, you got some sort of problem motherfucker? SAMPSON [Aside to GREGORY] You got my back if this motherfucker starts some shit? GREGORY Hell no. SAMPSON Well then I got a problem, but it ain’t with your bitch ass. GREGORY Don’t go starting no shit. ABRAHAM I ain’t startin shit! SAMPSON Best not motherfucker, you ain’t shit anyway. I know motherfuckers better than you. ABRAHAM You ain’t know shit. SAMPSON Shut the fuck up. GREGORY Look here, here come one of them better motherfuckers now. SAMPSON Oh yeah, that be a real badass motherfucker. ABRAHAM You talking shit again! ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/39 "2008-05-14T16:38:12Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > As a lifelong smartass, I find the idea highly sneer-worthy that smartasses would ever “unite” long enough to do anything. Never heard of the Algonquin Roundtable? Tch. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262/40 "2008-05-14T17:03:01Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] It has become apparent to me, after perusing some of the threads here, that intermingled with the smattering of posters of every variety, are some of the most hilarious smart asses I’ve ever run across. It must be the blend of above average intelligence and the cockiness of possessing said trait, that leads to the congregating of smart asses on this board. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget the Perfect Master. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-asses-unite/449262.md?page=3)