People Who Fake Being Smart Usually Say These 10 Things In Casual Conversation
lucaspezeta | PexelsSome people will do almost anything to sound smart. People who fake being smart often speak with plenty of confidence, even when they don't fully understand the subject. They may act like they know it all when facts or reasoning challenge their beliefs, but they don't always show that they understand the other person's point.
They may also dismiss other opinions, refuse to admit when they're wrong, or make people feel dumb for asking reasonable questions. Of course, using one of these phrases doesn't automatically mean someone is pretending to be smart, but when a person constantly talks down to others and can't defend what they believe, their words show that they care more about looking clever than having the smarts to back it up.
People who fake being smart actually say these 10 things all the time:
1. 'It's pretty obvious'
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Many people will hear, "Well, it's pretty obvious," and instantly get frustrated. Nobody likes to feel undermined, and nobody wants to feel stupid. So, hearing a friend, coworker, or family member say this can instantly put someone on the defensive.
Research shows that people who feel disrespected tend to get increasingly more aggressive. That said, there is a way to calm the waters. Finding ways to ground themselves or to simply correct themselves is the best course of action. Otherwise, they risk upsetting the people closest to them, causing those people to slowly distance themselves.
2. 'I could've told you that'
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People who act like they know it all don't always know how to keep their opinions to themselves, often saying things offhand like "I could've told you that" during conversation.
Constant bragging can get to be pretty annoying for most people. This kind of bragging can make someone seem full of themselves and cause other people to pull away.
This is why it's usually better not to brag when you get the chance to say, 'I told you so.' Although tempting, it can also stir the pot and cause unnecessary drama in the process, something that most people would probably like to avoid.
3. 'I've been around longer than you have'
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Most people have encountered a situation where someone older than them said something like "I've been around longer than you have." Though some might not think much of it, for the average person this phrase can lead to frustration for a multitude of reasons.
The biggest is that people who say this completely disregard and undermine the other person's intelligence. It shows a complete lack of respect for the other person, as the person cuts them off and doesn't allow for a proper conversation.
4. 'You just don't get it'
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When people say, "You don't get it," they may be frustrated, or they may be trying to dismiss a point they can't answer.
Refusing to admit to mistakes leads to misunderstandings and miscommunication in relationships. Not only that, it can slowly cause the people closest to them to distance themselves as they don't feel heard in the relationship. This is why it's important to listen to the other person instead of dismissing their point.
5. 'I don't need your input'
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In a classroom setting or in the workplace, there will always be someone who believes they know better than others. Refusing to listen to reason, someone who says "I don't need your input" purposely shuts down the conversation.
People sometimes overestimate how much they know. This behavior may be connected to the Dunning-Kruger effect, a cognitive bias that can cause people to misjudge their knowledge or abilities. This is why people should be a bit more realistic with themselves and listen to reason. They may even find that their original reasoning was flawed.
6. 'No need to explain'
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None of us knows everything. When approached with a question, most people aren't encyclopedias with all the answers at their fingertips. And yet too often people believe that they do know everything, saying things like "There's no need to explain it." They're suggesting that it isn't worth their time to go over everything with everyone.
However, refusing to communicate ends up causing miscommunication and mishaps in any relationship. Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that a lack of communication leads to greater stress for the other party. This is why it's important for people to educate themselves and clearly explain their position. They might find that they were missing a key detail, helping them to improve the outcome.
7. 'I know what I'm doing, trust me'
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People who act like they know it all will tell others, "I know what I'm doing, trust me," because they claim to know better. They may point to their education or experience as proof that they're the best person for the job
But if their confidence isn't backed by actual smarts or experience, their friends and coworkers may eventually realize that they don't know as much as they claimed. It gets worse as these same individuals refuse to admit they're wrong, leading to their project ending in disaster.
8. 'I've done my research'
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On the surface, "I've done my research" might not sound like a rude thing to say. Perhaps they did do their research, and perhaps they do feel competent in their abilities. However, there's another side to this argument: it closes the door on further discussion.
Using this phrase to end a discussion can make other people feel dismissed, especially when the speaker refuses to share credible sources or consider new information. Research found that people with greater intellectual humility were more willing to learn about opposing views and consider perspectives that challenged their own beliefs.
Furthermore, poor social skills lead to an increase in loneliness, which explains why it impacts people's mental health for the worse.
9. 'It's not that hard'
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When someone says, "It's not that hard," they may be trying to show that they understand something other people don't. And though this isn't inherently bad, it does rub it in other people's faces.
Unfortunately, doing this won't end well, as people hate to feel belittled and undermined. As a result, don't be surprised if this feeling of belittlement quickly turns to anger, or worse, aggression.
All things considered, this is why it's best to keep these thoughts to themselves. Though it might seem innocent enough, it can leave the people around them feeling frustrated and talked down to.
10. 'Wow, you didn't know that?'
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On the outside, a person who says "Wow, you didn't know that?" might sound like they're genuinely curious and shocked by someone's lack of knowledge. Yet, most of the time, people say this to be condescending.
Depending on their tone, they may be trying to embarrass someone to make themselves look smarter. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that witnessing rude behavior can hurt a person's performance. This is why saying rude things like, "Wow, you didn't know that?" isn't such a good idea. Not only is it straight-up rude, but it directly impacts the people around them, affecting their work and, by extension, their work environment for the worse.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's degree in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, and family topics.
