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DictionarysauceCheeky attitude
noun

sauce

Bold or disrespectful behavior or speech.

His teacher has little patience for his sauce in class.

Etymology
sauceOld Frenchseasoning or sauce

Sauce figuratively adds sharpness or flavor to speech. The extended sense came to emphasize speech judged too bold, cheeky, or disrespectful.

More examples

  • I ask a simple question and get sauce in return.
  • Don't give me any sauce when I ask you to help.
  • She apologizes for the sauce in her reply.

Forms

sauce

saucy adjective — Bold or disrespectful in manner.

Similar words

sass
An informal word especially for disrespectful or argumentative talk.
cheek
Emphasizes bold disrespect, sometimes viewed as amusing or daring.
impudence
More formal, emphasizing disrespect toward someone owed courtesy.