I believe the technical term for this slight lift of the left end of the upper lip is “sophistry”, an attitude that the perpetrator of this wisdom is simply the smartest person in the room.
After all, his (or her) mother had often repeated how very precious (pr precocious) her “smart kid” was. Now they believe it themselves.
Or, perhaps the "air" is the last effort of one merely attempting to be relevant without committing to an opinion which might, later, be held in "disdain" among the vast East and West Coasts' army of haters.
- sophist
- 1542, earlier sophister (c.1380), from L. sophista, sophistes, from Gk. sophistes, from sophizesthai "to become wise or learned," from sophos "wise, clever," of unknown origin. Gk. sophistes came to mean "one who gives intellectual instruction for pay," and, contrasted with "philosopher," it became a term of contempt. Ancient sophists were famous for their clever, specious arguments.
- philosopher
- O.E. philosophe, from L. philosophus, from Gk. philosophos "philosopher," lit. "lover of wisdom," from philos "loving" + sophos "wise, a sage."
"Pythagoras was the first who called himself philosophos, instead of sophos, 'wise man,' since this latter term was suggestive of immodesty." [Klein]
- philosophy
- A fondness or love for wisdom that leads to searches for it; hence, seeking a knowledge of the general principles of elements, powers, examples, and laws that are supported by facts and the existence of rational explanations about practical wisdom and knowledge.