Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Obstreperous, defiant, or uncooperative: Describes someone who is aggressively argumentative, difficult to manage, or stubbornly resistant to authority or control. It implies a noisy, unruly, or rebellious attitude.

2. Noun:

   • A radical or revolutionary: A term, often emotionally charged, used to refer to an extreme political radical or revolutionary. It is derived from "Bolshevik," relating to the historical Russian revolutionary party.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The manager found the new intern to be rather bolshy and unwilling to follow simple instructions.
  • Don't be so bolshy about the new rules; we all have to follow them.

• Noun:

  • The speaker was dismissed by his opponents as a mere bolshy with unrealistic ideas.
  • In the political debate, he was labeled a bolshy for his extreme views.

Advanced Usage

• The adjective form often describes an attitude or behavior in everyday contexts, not necessarily linked to political ideology.
• The noun form is often used pejoratively or dismissively to criticize someone's political stance as being too extreme.

Variants and Related Words

• Bolshie: An alternative spelling with the same meanings.
• Bolshevik (n): The historical term for a member of the radical wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which is the direct origin of "bolshy."

Synonyms

• Adjective: Defiant, recalcitrant, unruly, obstreperous, refractory.
• Noun: Radical, extremist, revolutionary, militant.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To get bolshy: To become defiant or uncooperative.
  • He started to get bolshy when they questioned his methods.

Adjective

1. obstreperous

Noun

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