je-sais-tout
The English phrase "smarty pants" can be translated into French as je-sais-tout.
je-sais-tout is a noun used to describe a know-it-all. You can use it as a mocking nickname for a man by calling him Monsieur je-sais-tout.
Meaning: know-it-all (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun's gender is indicated by the article used: use un je-sais-tout for a male know-it-all and une je-sais-tout for a female know-it-all.
Did you know?
- If you want to be even more insulting than calling someone a je-sais-tout, you can call them a petit malin. This suggests they are not just a know-it-all, but a 'clever little devil' trying to manipulate others.
- A 'je-sais-tout' is often perceived as someone who lacks 'l'humilité', a quality highly valued in French social etiquette. Calling someone this implies they have broken the unspoken rule of social modesty.
- The term 'je-sais-tout' is grammatically unique because the verb 'sais' stays in the first-person singular form even if you are talking about a third person, such as 'elle est une je-sais-tout'.
Examples in context
- Arrête de faire le je-sais-tout.Stop acting like a know-it-all.
- Ce petit je-sais-tout m'énerve.This little smarty pants annoys me.
- Il est devenu un vrai je-sais-tout à l'école.He has become a real know-it-all at school.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are discussing a classmate.
- EmmaTu as parlé avec Lucas aujourd'hui ?Did you talk to Lucas today?
- HugoOui, mais c'est un vrai je-sais-tout.Yes, but he is a real know-it-all.
- EmmaC'est vrai, il croit tout savoir.It's true, he thinks he knows everything.
- HugoIl est vraiment agaçant.He is really annoying.
