What it means
Means someone’s being lippy, stubborn, and deliberately hard work, the type who won’t be told and answers back just because they can. Often used for people getting stroppy with authority, kicking off, or refusing to play along. Comes from “Bolshevik”, so there’s that old whiff of rebelliousness. Annoying in a queue, sometimes useful in a meeting.
Usage examples
"He got bolshy with the bouncer, insisting his mate was definitely on the list, then had a proper strop when they still wouldn’t let him in."
"My daughter's been a bit bolshy since she turned fourteen, every request gets a sigh and an eye-roll."
"The new union rep is properly bolshy, he's already filed three grievances against the canteen rota."
Where it comes from
Abbreviation of "Bolshevik" that entered British everyday English in the 1920s, after the Russian Revolution made the term shorthand for any rebellious, anti-authority attitude. Stripped of its political origin, "bolshy" now describes the teenager who answers back, the employee who refuses overtime on principle, or anyone who picks a fight with management for the sport of it.
Other ways to say it
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