adjective
fresh
Bold in a disrespectful way.
The student gets fresh with the substitute teacher.
Etymology
Probably influenced by German frech, “impudent.” The American disrespectful sense need not be a simple extension of ordinary freshness.
More examples
- Do not be fresh when someone is trying to help.
- His fresh reply surprised the usually patient coach.
- She disliked the clerk's fresh tone.
Forms
fresh · fresher · freshest
Similar words
- impudent
- More formal and explicitly critical of disrespect.
- cheeky
- Often sounds more playful and less sharply disapproving.