wise-guys
Sarcastic joke-makers
Wise-guys is the plural of wise guy, someone who makes clever or sarcastic remarks, often annoyingly so: Okay, wise-guys, which one of you hid my keys?
The term also refers to members of organized crime, particularly the Italian-American Mafia: The wise-guys who ran the neighborhood knew everyone's business.
Criminal organization using intimidation
- gangstersOrganized crime members
- Cosa NostraSicilian criminal organization
- made manInitiated organized crime member
- crime familyCriminal organization by kinship
godfather · don · underboss · consigliere · hitman · enforcer · racketeer · bootlegger
Those who impose obedience
- muscleContractile body tissue
- heaviesMenacing tough guys
- goonsHired intimidators
- toughsViolent, aggressive people
hitmen · menacing · threatening · coercion · extortion · underworld · fear · dominance
Shrewd from urban experience
- savvyPractical shrewdness
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- wilySkilled at deception
quick-witted · resourceful · survival · hustle · connected · tough · scrappy
Devising a secret plan
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- slyCleverly deceptive
underhanded · calculating · shrewd · manipulative · subterfuge · machination · trickery · conniving
mafia
Criminal organization using intimidation
- gangstersOrganized crime members
- Cosa NostraSicilian criminal organization
- made manInitiated organized crime member
crime family · godfather · don · underboss · consigliere · hitman · enforcer · racketeer · bootlegger · syndicate
enforcers
Those who impose obedience
toughs · hitmen · menacing · threatening · coercion · extortion · underworld · fear · dominance · brutality
streetwise
Shrewd from urban experience
wily · quick-witted · resourceful · survival · hustle · connected · tough · scrappy
plotting
Devising a secret plan
sly · underhanded · calculating · shrewd · manipulative · subterfuge · machination · trickery · conniving · double-dealing
wisecrack
Flippant clever remark
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- smart-mouthImpertinent speaker
- quipsBrief witty remarks
comeback · lippy · fresh · mouthy · cheeky · disrespectful · insolent · cocky · flip · snarky
wise-guysstraight shooters
Forthright, honest individuals
honest brokers · true believers · straight talkers · straight men · naifs
wise-guysgentlemen
Men of refinement
straight arrows · good eggs · choirboys · boy scouts · conformists