Atthe age of 15 or so, my brother went through the typical know-it-all stage. Now that he's 18, he's worst than ever. I have honestly not known someone who find as much pleasure as degrading the people around him (though subtly, he is pretty sneaky) and elevating himself.

He will constantly find ways to sound smarter than all his friends. At least once every time I see him he will go into a 5 min rant about history or philosophy; sometimes it's appropriate, but most of the time it's off topic and no one cares.

Even if he's my brother, I don't feel responsible for him, he's old enough now to be his own person... but it's annoying as hell spending any time with him! (thankfully I don't live with him and my parents).

How do you say I deal with a egotistical douche? I know if he knows someone else knows more about a subject than he, he will keep is mouth shut. For example, if he starts ranting about astronomy or the like (which he's usually about 50% incorrect about, so I noticed he must also be about the rest of what he talks about), I'll usually destroy him with a few sentences, because I know much more than he does. Then he shuts up and acts like a normal very confident guy.

I know fighting fire with fire is never recommended, but it seems to work with him... plus it feels good (I'm terrible I know).

Also, some of you may think, it's just brother-brother relationship. However I've had my fiance tell him several times how much she finds him annoying, but most of his friends don't really notice, they just think he's smart. (Also for example, if he anyone makes a makes a mistake with mental math and he notices it, he'll try to put them down about it, just enough to make himself feel superior without the other person remembering what happened after 5 min).

What I'm looking for is a way to, over some time, defeat an unbearable smart ass.

Know it all's can be pretty damn lame. Honestly I just try to ignore people like that.

If they are just a "smart ass" then the way to combat that is to give them a hard time right back. I mean you have to let people know where you stand, and how you want to be treated.

My own older brother tends to talk like he knows everything about everything as well. The rather sickening thing is how he's still on this kind of high horse even after his life's gone through every possible kind of humbling experience I could imagine happening to him.
I just tend to ignore him when he rambles.

Oh god, this reminds me of someone.

The best way to deal with a smart ass is to just ignore them or to simply defeat their flawed logic.

Either option works. Generally they are a smart ass because they think it gets them attention and praise. If you simply ignore them, they won't be able to be a smart ass. Think of them like trolls. Trolls go for a certain reaction. In a way so do smart asses. Deprive them of that reaction.

Or you can beat them with logic. Depending on the smart ass-i-tude of the smart ass, this can be easy or difficult. Although normally, I prefer going with the ignore route.

legacyme3 : This is true. It's not always easy. I also usually ignore them, but they problem is, anyone else who doesn't know him as well give him the "wow, you know lots". And he usually says "Yup, I do" with an arrogant smirk.

Number 2 I use when I can. Like if he gets on a subject I know about, like bio or physics, I usually end him with a few carefully placed lines, or if he talks about chemistry, my fiance will usually shut him up, but he IS smart, and has learned to stick with things he knows well, and no one else does. Like history and politics; goodness it bores me.

But it's true what you say. Smart asses only do what they do cause people think their smart, so if you ignore them most of the time, and embarrass them the other half of the time, they should learn.

The problem is that as long as he keeps this up, my brotherly love for him keeps plummeting. I honestly don't want to spend any time with him, which is a shame.

Smart-asses aren't that tough to piss-off . Me when my dad says that ''I'M YOUR DAD IM SMARTER THAN YOU BLABLALBLA'' I Just say : Well..O.K .Then I leave. It always work ...it's worth a try

"anyone else who doesn't know him as well give him the "wow, you know lots". And he usually says "Yup, I do" with an arrogant smirk."

When this happens, just shrug, and let your pride go on the matter. Once you get out of earshot, feel free to hit something.

Eventually if enough people show they don't care, he won't be able to feel that, and will eventually stop. It's just a part of maturing. One he'll figure out someday.

He hasn't learned that there is being smart, and then there is being a condescending jerk. The first one gets you respect, the second resentment. He most likely perceives your annoyance as jealously, thus feeding his ego. Next time he goes off on a rant, point out that he isn't making himself look smart, he's making himself look like an ass, and you won't be there to help him out when he acts like a jerk towards the wrong person.

You other option is to crack open the history books and beat him at his own gain. Good for your personal enrichment since you actually learn stuff, but probably bad for your relationship.

People like that thrive on human interaction and attention. He will most likely meet his match later in life. When that happens he will get owned and if he can't accept it well then that is how all fights usually start out so he better be a good fighter to back up his attitude.

It's not good to act cocky and better then others because there is always someone who will go as far as killing you to prove they are better. He better learn now before its too late or he will have some serious trouble down the road. If he meets another egomaniac who is on his level or above his level that is not going to turn out so well.

Elara : "He most likely perceives your annoyance as jealously". Very true. He is indeed very smart, he can remember trivial info a little better than I can, and is much better speaker than I (I stumble a lot, and have a hard time putting my thoughts into words). I KNOW he thinks I'm jealous of him; I am not, but as the younger brother, entertaining those thoughts is expected to a degree.

The fact that he does think I'm jealous (or at least tries to make me) makes it hard for me to tell him to smarten up. If I do, he thinks he's getting to me and continues. However, based on the advice here, I will try to tactfully and very unemotionally tell him to shut up and act like a good person one day. As I have said before though, he is very sneaky about not "crossing the line", it's almost impossible to get on his case about any one incident, it's just that he is constantly standing next to it.

As for out learning him in history and the like; I do think about this often, and honestly, although a lot more work, I think it might be my best option.

Beat a smart ass by [ii]being a smart ass. That is how i got my step mother to be a little less of a uh...um.... punk and moron, to put it nicely.

If you do go the "out-historianing" him route, one way to really shut people down is to ask them to prove their sources. If he says "Wikipedia", laugh at him.

It's quite doable overall, I've corrected teachers. They don't like it. *evil grin*

In the meantime, just put out the occasional "Dude, get over yourself."

Sounds to me like you've already got that part under control. I have a bit of experience, you obviously can't ignore him, so I guess fighting back would be your best bet so I think you're doing all you can.

My oldest brother does this 24/7 to everybody around him! I just nod and go along with it just to completely forget it a min later. It seems to keep him from going over the top with the crap he dishes out, also he gets really angry for no reason what so ever and gives abuse to most often either his girlfriend or our mom, what do I do about that?

Lord Treeko : He obviously doesn't respect woman like he should. You could try hard to make a good example for him, be very respectful of your mom and other woman. It's not rare for a boy to start disrespecting his mother's authority at a certain age (I even did), but he should not be rude!  Not sure what else to do about it though.

But now that I think about it, you could always just punch him in his jaw. It may seem harsh, but that's the only way that some people learn their lesson. 

I say wait till he's mid-sentence in something he seems very dedicated towards explaining; then just walk out of the room. 

My Mom is a giant Smart ass she wants to always be right even when wrong...
as long I known her she never admitted fault She just gets angry and stingy about stuff.
We the sons & daughters try to ignore it even if its nearly impossible sometimes.
The only way she learns is by making mistakes herself....
I think that's the only way for certain smart asses.

Light Knight : I'm only 18 soon 19 and hes 28 (i think) surely i could just get police involved?, but mum always says don't cause he (my brother) is her son.