chutzpa

or chutz·pah, hutz·pa, hutz·pah

[ hoot-spuh, khoot- ]

noun

, Slang.

1. unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall:

   He had the chutzpa to threaten to sue the people who caught him cheating.

2. bold self-confidence; daring:

   He got his first article published through sheer chutzpa while working as a telephone operator for a news agency.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chutzpa¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from Yiddish khutspa, from Aramaic ḥūṣpā

Example Sentences

Hamler said he atoned for his drop because he has that short memory that cornerbacks have and the chutzpa that undrafted, overlooked players possess.

From Seattle Times

Forgotten, though, is the chutzpa behind them, a chutzpa that has been a gift to a sport that’s prone to vanilla-ness.

From Golf Digest

Who dares to get inside the very heads of strangers, who has the chutzpa to project thoughts and feelings into the minds of others, who steals their very souls?

From Time

Moshe Maoz, an expert on Syria at Israel's Hebrew University, said the prime minister's tough stand was "an affront and chutzpa" to the international community.

From US News

Most people can’t use this because of bone density, the need to live near a hospital and you have to have a certain amount of chutzpa, which he has.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• boldness