SAUCY (saucier, sauciest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: saucier    , sauciest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does saucy mean? 

• SAUCY (adjective)
  The adjective SAUCY has 2 senses:

1. characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

2. improperly forward or bold

  Familiarity information: SAUCY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAUCY (adjective)

Comparative: saucier   
Superlative: sauciest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

Synonyms:

impertinent; irreverent; pert; saucy

Context example:

a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner

Similar:

spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Improperly forward or bold

Synonyms:

fresh; impertinent; impudent; overbold; sassy; saucy; smart; wise

Context example:

Don't get wise with me!

Similar:

forward (used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty)

Derivation:

sauciness (inappropriate playfulness)

 Context examples 

What if he is fond of a bright eye and a saucy face.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Jo had grown quite her own saucy self again since Teddy came home.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Forgive me, if I am very saucy.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Oh! how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It made them mad to think of all they had done in the south, and then to see this saucy frigate flashing her money before their eyes.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

'Mr. Bertram,' said she, with a smile; but it was a smile ill-suited to the conversation that had passed, a saucy playful smile, seeming to invite in order to subdue me; at least it appeared so to me.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Think she must of the possible difference to the poor little boy; and yet she only gave herself a saucy conscious smile about it, and found amusement in detecting the real cause of that violent dislike of Mr. Knightley's marrying Jane Fairfax, or any body else, which at the time she had wholly imputed to the amiable solicitude of the sister and the aunt.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

"I wish I could, and be done with it," said I, trying not to be saucy.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In defence of your protege you can even be saucy.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

How often, when you were a girl, have you said to me, with one of your saucy looks—'Mr. Knightley, I am going to do so-and-so; papa says I may, or I have Miss Taylor's leave'—something which, you knew, I did not approve.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)