What does the Hebrew word chutzpah mean?
supreme self-confidence
Definition of chutzpah : supreme self-confidence : nerve, gall It took a lot of chutzpah to stand up to him the way she did.
Is chutzpah Yiddish or Hebrew?
Chutzpah is a Yiddish word meaning “impudence or gall.” Bravery that borders on rudeness is chutzpah, which rhymes with “foot spa.” If you have chutzpah, you say what you think without worrying about hurting someone’s feelings, looking silly, or getting in trouble.
What is an example of chutzpah?
noun. The definition of chutzpah is a Yiddish word that refers to shameless boldness or almost-arrogant courage. When you go right up to the president of a company and tell him he needs to give you a job, this is an example of chutzpah.
Can chutzpah be positive?
The positive side of chutzpah demonstrates a sense of self and a confidence to do the job. The negative side of chutzpah is abrasiveness, a disregard for the feelings or sentiments of others. In behavioral terms, chutzpah manifests itself as assertiveness.
Is chutzpah a bad thing?
In Yiddish, chutzpah is usually considered a negative characteristic, along the lines of brazen nerve, insolence, impudence, or arrogant self-confidence. In this form, it’s a personality characteristic that’s unattractive and destructive.
How do you use chutzpah?
Chutzpah sentence example
- I have to admire the chutzpah he has in doing this.
- How could Guy Ritchie, who showed such chutzpah in his first couple of films, have become such a muddled, pretentious bore?
- Equating Vietnam with the war against al Qaeda takes remarkable chutzpah , but the Republicans have it in spades.
Where does chutzpah come from?
Chutzpah (/ˈxʊtspə, ˈhʊt-/) is the quality of audacity, for good or for bad. It derives from the Hebrew word ḥuṣpāh (חֻצְפָּה), meaning “insolence”, “cheek” or “audacity”.
What is the opposite of chutzpah?
Opposite of utter audacity, effrontery or impudence. humility. meekness. modesty. shyness.
Is C silent in chutzpah?
The ‘c’ is silent in the Yiddish word – the pronunciation will be ‘hutz-pah’ or ‘hootz-pah’.
What’s a synonym for chutzpah?
Some common synonyms of chutzpah are audacity, cheek, effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean “conspicuous or flagrant boldness,” nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.