noun

wisecrack

WYZE-krak

Wisecrack (noun) means a quick, clever and slightly cheeky remark, often made at someone else's expense. Example: “He could not resist a wisecrack about the manager's new haircut.”

noun

A quick, clever and slightly cheeky remark, often made at someone else's expense.

"He could not resist a wisecrack about the manager's new haircut."

"One more wisecrack and you can wait outside."

verb

To make such a remark.

""Nice of you to join us," she wisecracked as he slid into his seat."

How to Use Wisecrack

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cheeky, clever remark.

When to use it

Informal, with a mid-twentieth-century American flavour that many speakers now find slightly dated.

Easily confused with

quip → one-liner → banter →

Common pairings

make a wisecrack a wisecrack about spare me the wisecracks

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He could not resist a _____ about the manager's new haircut.

Etymology

A compound of wise, in the slang sense of impudent or knowing, and crack, a sharp spoken remark; American in origin.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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quip gibe crack one-liner witticism joke

Related Words

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a wisecrack and a joke?

A joke is usually a self-contained story or setup built to get a laugh. A wisecrack is a one-off remark thrown into a conversation, and it nearly always has a needling or sarcastic edge that a plain joke need not have.

Is calling someone a wisecracker an insult?

It is mildly critical. It suggests someone who cannot resist a smart remark and does not always know when to stop, though it is far softer than calling them a smart alec.

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