chutzpah

British  

/ ˈxʊtspə /

noun

1. informal shameless audacity; impudence

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chutzpah Cultural  

1. Yiddish term for courage bordering on arrogance, roughly equivalent to “nerve” (in the slang sense): “It took a lot of chutzpah to make such a controversial statement.”

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Etymology

Origin of chutzpah

C20: from Yiddish

Example Sentences

Then you work up the chutzpah to share it with other people.

From Los Angeles Times

“He had the chutzpah to actually do something spectacular, which certain people find attractive and courageous,” said Jeff Goodwin, a New York University professor who studies social movements.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yiddish, the language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews across Europe before the Holocaust, is now perhaps best known to many English speakers through words such as "schlep", "klutz" and "chutzpah".

From Barron's

It was part luck and part chutzpah that landed him a spot on the “Leeza” syndicated talk show.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, she can’t help but admire the chutzpah of a candidate who channels the rocker Pink.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• arrogance
• audacity
• boldness
• gall