Skip to main content
lippy

lippy

1 8.7
Rude or cheeky when talking back to people in charge
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɪpi/
  • Offensive
translation icon : respondón
  • He was too lippy during the meeting, which annoyed his boss.

So what happens is in the medium, they're a little bit more lippy at the low.

Examples

  • Being lippy, Knightly?

  • You seem a bit lippy, but you know I'm I'm lippy back and back myself with what I say.

  • No wonder they are lippy, rude toward others, selfish, and faster to experience sex.

    Blog text (13)
  • The teacher warned me that being lippy would get me in trouble.

  • Her lippy comments toward the principal earned her a detention.

Synonyms

disrespectful
vslippy
121 3.0

Not polite to someone, for example interrupting them

is specifically about rude talk back to authority, not broad disrespect
cheeky
vslippy
  • Informal
33 4.8

Being rude in a playful way that shows little respect

is harsher toward authority, often direct talk back rather than playful
insolent
vslippy
22 7.1

Rude and not showing respect to other people

is milder and often cheekier toward authority instead of arrogant behavior
saucy
vslippy
  • Informal
21 5.8

Being playful and a little rude in a way that teases people

is more directly rude toward authority rather than only playful
snippy
vslippy
18 6.7

Being short and rude in the way someone speaks

is more about talking back to authority rather than brief rudeness
impertinent
vslippy
8 7.2

Rude or too bold toward someone, sometimes playful

is used more for talking back to authority than plain forwardness
mouthy
vslippy
  • Offensive
6 7.9

Talking a lot in a rude or disrespectful way

is focused on talking back to authority rather than general rudeness
loud-mouthed
vslippy
  • Offensive
3 6.7

A person who speaks loudly and says rude things

is more about cheeky replies to authority, not only loud speech
flippy
vslippy
1 8.8

A person who does not take things seriously and shows little respect

is aimed more at talking back to authority than mere flippancy
bolshy
vslippy
  • Slang
9.9

A person who is openly rude and refuses to obey people in charge

is often cheeky talk back rather than outright institutional defiance
tonguey
vslippy
  • Informal
8.9

Quick to say sharp things that hurt

is more general cheeky talk back rather than intentionally biting comments

Antonyms

150 1.1

Being polite and showing admiration for someone

How Rude

insolent
22 7.1
rude
594 1.0
impertinent
8 7.2
lippy
  • Offensive
1 8.7
cheeky
  • Informal
33 4.8

Surface Forms

lippy positive

Morphology

lippy = lip (semi-transparent) = lip + y

The meaning 'rude, cheeky' extends from the idiomatic sense 'lip' = 'impudent talk' (as in 'give someone lip'), which may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Lippy can also mean 'rude' or 'cheeky' because lip came to mean 'talk back' in phrases like 'give someone lip' ('to talk back'), so lippy describes someone who speaks with disrespect.