Does anyone here find it offensive to have your intelligence compared to Bart? If someone said you were "Smart like Bart" would it be an offense or a compliment? I would take it more as an insult, but it's just a step above having someone say "You have the intelligence of Anna Nicole Smith".

Anna Nicole Smith - brain dead.

I would say it depends in what context they are using it. Bart is often times very clever in pulling pranks on people and it's possible they mean you are clever in a trouble making sort of way.

On the other hand, they might mean that you are just kind of dumb.

Smart like Bart seems like a dumb way of saying "sly like a fox" to me. Keep in mind, who ever said that is an idiot, so they really shouldn't be insulting anyone's IQ.

Intelligence is a weird thing and everyone defines it differently. 

Bart is clever with his pranks, but I think he lacks in just about every other aspect.
 

You mean, "suck like a fox" right?  As in:

-"Boy Homer, you sure do suck tonight."
-"Yeah, suck like a FOX!"

Bart is street smart, not book smart. I wouldn't mind if someone said that to me. Later I would prank them and laugh.

I think people say it because it rhymes?

I have never heard this in my life :/

you must be smart like Bart then

^ This I also hate it when people (usually teen-early twenties girls) tell me to playfully shut up repeatily.
 

Reminds of the saying " Jack of all Trades" for some reason. I hear people use it all the time around the office like they are complimenting someone but it always seemed like more of an insult to me.

It's usually a compliment meaning someone is skilled at many things as opposed to have a specific specialty. I don't see that as an insult *shrugs*
 

I just always take it as you're kinda good at some things but not really good at anything.

That was my first thought.

 
I think most people don't intend to insult someone when they say it, although the full saying is "Jack of all trades, master of none," which does carry a negative connotation.

 

^^^that's what I mean!

Kind of like a backhanded complement

Same. Used to know a dumb kid in like 5th grade who would tell people they were "Evel Knievel" as an insult....

I was going to say something along these lines.....some of the stuff he pulls off is well thought out and clever.

 

That reminds me of when a guy told me that I was an ass when I was being bitchy because I was pissed off. Then I replied and said, "That would be a compliment, as I hear more people are killed annually by donkeys than plane crashes."
 

The whole saying is jack of all trades master of none, so I guess not being a master at anything could be considered an insult, then again being good at alot of things must be a compliment.

I've never really known how to feel about that if its a compliment or insult.

I think I just started thinking about it too much one day and my conclusion was i feel it's kind of a negative thing. But I'm sure most everyone who says it doesn't mean it that way.

Y'know, tbh I keep seeing the thread title as "Smelt like Bart", which now has a different meaning entirely.

Yeah that whole expression is jack of all trades, and master of none.  Kind of a compliment and equally an insult.  But most people don't know this when they say it.  I think in modern terms it means you can do anything.  I agree smart like Bart means you are very clever, but Bart is also known to be a bad student and Homer's right hand man in many misguided adventures.  The sound of one hand clapping comes to mind.  He has an answer, but he misses the point.

You beat me to it.  Didn't look at the 2nd page.  I guess I'm smart like Bart.