barrack-room lawyer
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A know-it-all.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"Dot" Williams: If you were any kind of senior officer, you wouldn't have sent such an inexperienced young policeman out on such a dangerous job.
Senior Sergeant Grossmith: Hooked yourself a regular barracks room lawyer, I see.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “barrack-room lawyer” mean?
A know-it-all.
Is “barrack-room lawyer” formal or informal?
barrack-room lawyer is generally slang.