feisty
adjective

- active, forceful and full of determination

Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

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ORIGIN

Late 19th century American English meaning “aggressive, exuberant, touchy”.

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FEISTY ACTRESS

In the mid 1980s, actress Meryl Streep signed up for a film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita. It would have been a perfect role for her, allowing her to show off her dramatic skills and her singing ability.

The production unfortunately ran out of money. When the project was resurrected, Streep was over 40 and considered too old for the part of Eva Peron, who died at the age of 30.

She still fought hard to keep the role, but the producers decided they wanted pop diva Madonna. “I can sing better than she can”, complained Streep, adding a peculiarly feisty comment, “If Madonna gets that part, I’ll rip her throat out”. Madonna was given the part and also got to keep her throat.

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SYNONYMS

bubbly, excitable, FEISTY, fiery, frisky, full of pep, gritty, gutsy, high-strung, hot-blooded, lively, impudent, mettlesome, mischievous, on a short fuse, peppy, shirty, spirited, spunky, temperamental, wired, zestful

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Jim’s FEISTY attitude has brought new spirit into the team, but some people find him too loud.”

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HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40