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# sass

noun (sass; uncountable); verb (sass, sasses, sassed, sassing)

«sass» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, mainly US) Cheeky, rude talk, especially to a parent or teacher; back talk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#m1)
2. (verb, informal) To talk back cheekily to someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#m2)
3. (informal, praise) Bold, lively confidence and style: «she's got sass». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday family life an adult may say «Don't give me any sass!» when a child answers back. In stories it shows a cheeky, confident character. In the UK people more often say «cheek» or «lip». Phrases: «give someone sass», «don't sass me», «full of sass».

### Examples

- «Don't sass your mother,» said Dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#x1)
- That's enough sass, young lady. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#x2)
- The puppy has a lot of sass for such a tiny dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#x3)
- He sassed the teacher and got a detention. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#x4)
- The singer performed with style and sass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#x5)
- I didn't mean to give you sass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/#x6)

### Note

Informal, mostly American. Adjective: «sassy». UK equivalent: «cheek» («don't give me cheek»). Being sassy can be fun, but sassing adults can be seen as rude.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sass» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sass/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sass» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sass.html) on Mova free.