The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SHARPIES
S
H
A
R
P
I
E
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "smart people" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case smart people = sharpies.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SHARPIES mean?
SHARPIES noun- Accipiter striatus, the smallest hawk to reside in USA and Canada, which preys on songbirds.
- An alert person.
- A knowledgeable fisherman.
- A swindler.
- A long, narrow fishing boat used in shallow waters.
- A member of a violent, fashionably dressed youth gang of the 1960s and 1970s.
- A Sharpie or other brand of felt-tipped marker pen.