Where does the expression "smartass" come from and whom does it refer to?
I know what "smartass" means, but you have to be a foreigner to get bothered by things you don't understand completely. Does donkey actually have anything to do with it or is it purely a certain anatomical part?
It was a phrase coined by Red Forman on an episode of That 70's Show.
Thanks, so basically, it is from "kicking ass". Somehow there are always two most important body parts: "It's all in your head" and "You are full of shit".
Sorry, the term "smartass" has been around a lot longer than that 70's show although Red Foreman did use it well and it was very funny. I believe it probably evolved from the original term "smart alec" If you google it you can read the whole story, it is about a criminal from the 1840's who was "too smart for his own good" according to police.
So, obviously it was a person. Thanks! It just feels weird, but I cannot help it - certain nuances of the language escape me.
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