Definition

Adjective: 1. Stubbornly uncooperative, rebellious, or defiant: Describes a person who is deliberately difficult, obstructive, or resistant to authority or established systems. It implies a confrontational or argumentative attitude. 2. Having or showing left-wing, radical, or revolutionary views: Describes a person or attitude that is politically radical, especially in a socialist or communist direction. This meaning is derived from the historical context of the Bolsheviks.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Uncooperative):
  • "Don't be so bolshie about the new schedule; we all have to follow it."
  • "He has a bolshie attitude that makes him very difficult to work with in a team."
• Adjective (Politically Radical):
  • "Her bolshie opinions were well-known on campus." (This usage is less common in modern everyday English and can sound dated or historical.)

Advanced Usage and Nuance

• The term is often used informally and can range in tone from mildly critical to strongly disapproving. When describing someone as "bolshie," the speaker often implies frustration with that person's refusal to comply or cooperate.
• It is primarily a British English term.

Variants and Related Words

• Bolshy: An alternative spelling with the same meaning.
• Bolshevik (Noun, historical): A member of the radical wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which seized power in the 1917 October Revolution.
• Bolshevism (Noun): The communist form of government adopted in Russia following the Bolshevik revolution.

Synonyms

• Obstreperous: Noisy and difficult to control.
• Recalcitrant: Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
• Defiant: Showing open resistance or bold disobedience.
• Contrarian: A person who opposes or rejects popular opinion.

Idioms and Phrases

• To get bolshie: To become uncooperative or defiant.
  • "The staff started to get bolshie when management announced the pay freeze."

Noun

1. emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionaries