adj
saucy
SAW-sih
adj
1
Cheeky or disrespectful in a way that comes across as playful or amusing rather than genuinely rude.
"The kid gave a saucy grin before running off with the last cookie."
"She fired back a saucy reply that had the whole room laughing."
2
Mildly flirtatious or suggestive.
"The advert had a saucy tagline that got people talking."
How to Use Saucy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCheeky, bold, or a little flirtatious, in a way that's usually entertaining rather than offensive.
When to use it
Informal, and mostly British in everyday use.
Common pairings
a saucy remark
a saucy grin
saucy humour
Word Forms
saucier comparative, sauciest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “saucy”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kid gave a _____ grin before running off with the last cookie.
Etymology
From "sauce" plus the adjective ending "-y" — someone "saucy" has a bit of spice or bite to their manner.