saucy
[saw-see]
- impertinent; insolent: a saucy remark; a saucy child.
- pert; boldly smart: a saucy little hat for Easter.
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Origin of saucy
Synonyms
See more synonyms for saucy on Thesaurus.com1. rude, impudent, fresh, brazen. 2. jaunty.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for saucy
Contemporary Examples
The animated video clip accompanying the leak of “Gentleman” hints that some saucy booty shaking will be involved.
The saucy and self-possessed singer had kicked her cocaine drug habit and hired a new manager, Lupe De Leon.
Etta James’s Son Donto Says Addiction Was Part of Famed Singer’s LifeChristine Pelisek
November 15, 2012
The now-former CIA director and his alleged mistress, Paula Broadwell, often wrote each other saucy email messages.
The woman is a force of nature: tough, spirited, saucy, straight-talking, fierce.
TMZ, which originally acquired the saucy snaps, says today in a blog entry that, "Harry's people dropped the ball."
Historical Examples
Such a saucy meekness; such a best manner; and such venom in words!
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
Primrose is now almost a young lady, and, Eustace tells me, is just as saucy as ever.
Tanglewood TalesNathaniel Hawthorne
I wonder not at Lovelace's saucy answer, saucy as it really is.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
But you know I ever was a saucy creature—ever stood in need of great allowances.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
"Not if they wait till I pass 'em," answered Tip in his prompt, saucy way.
saucy
- impertinent
- pert; jauntya saucy hat
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for saucy
adj.
c.1500, "resembling sauce," later "impertinent, flippantly bold, cheeky" (1520s), from sauce (n.) + -y (2). The connecting notion is the figurative sense of "piquancy in words or actions." Cf. sauce malapert "impertinence" (1520s), and slang phrase to have eaten sauce "be abusive" (1520s). Also cf. salty in same senses.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper