bolshie
English
Alternative forms
- bolshi
Etymology
From Bolshevik (Russian большеви́к (bolʹševík), the socialist party in the 1918 Russian Revolution, from Russian большевики́ (bolʹševikí, “majority faction”), + -ie.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbɒl.ʃi/
Noun
bolshie (plural bolshies)
- (derogatory, Britain, dated) A government leftist, especially a communist, socialist, or labour union leader.
Adjective
bolshie (comparative bolshier, superlative bolshiest)
- (UK) Difficult or rebellious.
- Kate, don't be so bolshie!
- 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 16, in The Line of Beauty, New York: Bloomsbury, OCLC 1036692193:
- Rachel came in, and Nick felt he'd been caught larking about, Catherine squashing him like some bolshie teenage attempt at seduction.
Alternative forms
- bolshy
Synonyms
- contrary
- contumacious
- perverse
- recalcitrant
Related terms
- Bolshevik
- bolshiness