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"you are just a little know-it-all" commendatory or derogatory?
one guy says it to another guy. I think it is praise but he is angry.
Dec 14, 2015 3:19 PM
Answers · 3
5
It is definitely derogatory.
A 'know-it-all' is someone who irritates other people by showing off their knowledge - this is never a positive quality. If your dictionary defines it as praise, this is a very poor and inaccurate translation.
'Just' and 'little' add to the derogatory nature of the comment.
December 14, 2015
1
Generally it is not a compliment - it means someone who acts as if he knows everything and is showing off.
However it can be used in a friendly way between friends - if one friend tells the other something she did not know before, she can gently say to the other ' oh, you are a little Miss know it all, aren't you ??
December 14, 2015
That's such a funny word, but know-it-all people are very annoying. There used to be a few of this type on Italki, especially in the discussions.
December 14, 2015
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Flowers
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
English
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