chutzpah

/ ˈxʊtspə /

noun

1. informal,  shameless audacity; impudence

chutzpah

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.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chutzpah¹

C20: from Yiddish

Example Sentences

Unencumbered by much experience but rich with chutzpah, he talks a producer into putting up the money for a cheapie by promising to make a slick noir with plenty of crime and gunplay.

Read more on 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".

Read more on Barron's

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

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Liberals either didn’t notice or underestimated his chutzpah and hubris.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• arrogance 
• audacity 
• boldness 
• gall