Someone who just thinks they know what they're talking about
What is a word or phrase that means a speaker (or writer) is talking about something they know very little about, but they think they know more than they do?
An example: If you read diet message boards, you get dozens of people saying ‘Eat 6 small meals a day,’ or ‘Eat 3 big meals, but don’t snack,’ or ‘Eat more/less protein/carbs/fat.’ Each person is sure they are knowlegable enough to give good advice, but real experts(dieticians or researchers, for example) are rare. I want a word to describe this attitude.
Bullshit is close, but someone bullshitting usually knows they aren’t an expert, they just want to convince the listener they are. Also, I’d prefer something politer than bullshit.
Solution 1:
Ultracrepidarian
- noting or pertaining to a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside the area of his or her expertise: The play provides a classic, simplistic portrayal of an ultracrepidarian mother-in-law. noun
- an ultracrepidarian person.
Solution 2:
The term illusory superiority comes to mind: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority
See also: The Dunning-Kruger effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Solution 3:
As a phrase, be talking through your hat :
to be talking about a subject as if you know a lot about it when in fact you know very little
The person can be called know-it-all also:
A know-it-all or know-all is a person who obnoxiously purports an expansive comprehension of a topic and/or situation when in reality, his/her comprehension is inaccurate or limited.