sassy
adjective

- rude and showing no respect

- vigorous, lively

- distinctively smart and stylish

The Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

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WORD PHRASE ORIGIN

"Sassy" originated as a variant of the word "saucy", which comes from Middle English sauci, meaning "sauced" or "flavoured." The term "saucy" evolved to describe someone as bold, impudent, or cheeky—akin to adding a bit of spice or flavour to their behaviour.

In the early 1800s, "sassy" emerged in American English, particularly in colloquial and regional dialects, as a more playful or informal version of "saucy.” Its usage often described someone, especially children or women, as lively, bold, or impudent in speech or manner.

Over time, "sassy" developed dual connotations. While it retained the idea of rudeness or impudence, it also began to convey positive attributes, such as confidence, spiritedness, and a witty, bold attitude.

Today, "sassy" is often used as an endearing or empowering term, especially to describe someone who is outspoken, clever, or unapologetically confident.  

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SASSY COMMENTS

- “There’s nothing a man can do, that I can’t do better and in heels.” — Ginger Rogers

- “I only want one thing of men, and that is, that they should leave me alone.” — D.H. Lawrence

- “I don’t care what you think about me; I don’t think about you at all!” — Coco Chanel

- “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” — Mae West

- “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.” — Elizabeth Taylor

- “Keep your head high and your middle finger higher.” — Megan Fox

- “The difference between pizza and your opinion is that I only asked for pizza.” — Anonymous

- “I’m not saying I hate you, what I’m saying is that you are literally the Monday of my life.” — Anonymous

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SYNONYMS

a handful, a piece of work, abusive, arrogant, assuming, assumptive, audacious, back-talking, ballsy, bold (as brass), boldfaced, brash, brassy, bratty, brazen, cheeky, cocky, confrontational, contemptuous, contumelious, defiant, discourteous, disdainful, disrespectful, feisty, flip, flippant, forward, fresh, gives lip, got an attitude (mouth), gutsy, has a mind of their own (a smart mouth), high and mighty, impertinent, impish, impudent, insolent, irreverent, lippy, malapert, mischievous, mouthing off, mouthy, presumptuous, provocative, pushy, putting on airs, rebellious, rude, SASSY, sarcastic, saucy, sharp-tongued, smart-alecky, snarky, snippety, snippy, tactless, tart, tart-tongued, too big for their boots (britches), unapologetic, uppish, uppity, wise guy, wisecracking

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“SASSY remarks don’t win points during job interviews.”

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