saucy
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsɔː.sɪ/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsɔ.si/
- (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈsɑ.si/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ɔːsi
- Rhymes: -ɒsi
Adjective edit
saucy (comparative saucier, superlative sauciest)
- Similar to sauce; having the consistency or texture of sauce.
- Bring the tomatoes to a boil and then simmer until they reach a saucy consistency.
- (figurative) Impertinent or disrespectful, often in a manner that is regarded as entertaining or amusing; smart.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:cheeky
- She is a loud, saucy child who doesn't show a lot of respect to her elders.
- c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 311, column 1, line 143:
- If this be knowne to you, and your Allowance, / We then haue done you bold, and ſaucie wrongs.
- 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter XVII, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume I, London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 216:
- And books!—Thomson, Cowper, Scott;—she would buy them all over and over again; she would buy up every copy I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree. Should not you, Marianne? Forgive me, if I am very saucy. But I was willing to shew you that I had not forgot our old disputes.
- Impudently bold; pert.
- 1923, Lucy Maud Montgomery, “Chapter 8”, in Emily of New Moon:
- Her mouth was large, and she had a saucy, pronounced chin.
- Sharp; pungent; piquant.
- Mildly erotic.
- I enjoyed the dancing, but my husband found it a little too saucy.
- 1933, Stella Blum, Everyday Fashion of the Thirties as pictured in Sears Catalogs, published 1986, page 46:
- Saucy epaulet shoulder and full sleeves that fit into neat button trimmed cuffs.
- 2012 December 17, John Plunkett, “The X Factor did not breach code with 'saucy' dance routine, Ofcom rules”, in The Guardian[2], →ISSN:
- An episode of ITV1's The X Factor which featured a Britney Spears impersonator performing a "saucy" routine in a body stocking did not breach the broadcasting code, media regulator Ofcom has ruled.
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
similar to sauce
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impertinent or disrespectful
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impudently bold
mildly erotic
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “saucy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ “Archived copy”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)[1], 2019 April 21 (last accessed), archived from the original on 21 April 2019