I saw a cute avatar in this section that has Chutzpah and I have heard the word before.
2007-10-05 05:02:32 · 10 answers · asked by ? 3 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Israel
Buying a brand-new imported American SUV and then complaining about the price of gas . . . :-)
(P.S. Gas in Israel is currently +/- $6.00 a gallon . . . .)
2007-10-05 06:41:56 · answer #1 · answered by WittyWeasel™ 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Chutzpah is the quality of audacity, for good or for bad. The word derives from the Hebrew word ḥuá¹£pâ (×ֻצְפָּ×), meaning "insolence," "audacity," and "impertinence". The modern English usage of the word has taken on a wider spectrum of meaning, however, having been popularized through vernacular use, film, literature, and television.
In Hebrew, chutzpah is used indignantly, to describe someone who has over-stepped the boundaries of accepted behavior with no shame. But in Yiddish and English, chutzpah has developed ambivalent and even positive connotations. Chutzpah can be used to express admiration for non-conformist but gutsy audacity. One common English adaptation of "chutzpah" is "hoodspa," which has a mostly positive connotation. Leo Rosten in The Joys of Yiddish defines chutzpah as "gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, incredible 'guts,' presumption plus arrogance such as no other word and no other language can do justice to." In this sense, chutzpah expresses both strong disapproval and a grudging admiration.
One example given of the ultimate of chutzpah is: "A boy, having just been convicted of murdering his parents, begs the judge for leniency because he is an orphan."
Related terms in Hebrew are khatsuf (×צ××£) and khatsufah (×צ×פֿ×), which means an "impudent man" and an "impudent woman," respectively.
2007-10-05 13:30:02 · answer #2 · answered by Duke of Tudor 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Chutzpah means insolence
2007-10-09 11:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by Davey Boy Smith #1 Fan- VACATION 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chutzpah means 'nerve' or 'cheek', and to say to someone 'I can't believe your chutzpah' generally expresses a mixture of shock and admiration at how outrageously daring they are.
It is indeed a word in Yiddish, but it actually derives from Hebrew. In Hebrew the word 'chatzoof' means 'impudent' or 'cheeky', and chutzpah means 'impudence' or 'cheek'. Derivative words include 'chutzpan' meaning 'an impudent or cheeky man' and 'chutzpanit' which means 'an impudent or cheeky woman'.
2007-10-05 12:52:13 · answer #4 · answered by Londoner In Israel 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A young man was convicted of killing his parents. Before sentencing he begged for the leniency of the court because he was an orphan.
That's chutzpah!
.
2007-10-05 16:29:58 · answer #5 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yup, those above are good definitions of chutzpah (the ch is pronounced sort of like you're getting ready to spit) Chutzpah is something that people react strongly to, some like it some hate it, but almost everyone has an opinon on it .And thanks that you think my avatar is cute.
2007-10-05 12:41:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
'Chutzpah' means 'cheek'.
So if someone says or does something audacious, cheeky, or really feisty, you can say they have 'real chutzpah, or you can say 'what a chutzpah'.
It's a word that can be used in reluctant admiration, and sometimes a bit in irritation, and also in amusement.
2007-10-05 12:10:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
yiddish!!!
Chutzpah
(KHOOTS-pah) n. Nerve; insolence; presumption and arrogance (that quality of a man who, having murdered his parents pleads with the court to show him mercy on account of being an orphan).
Chutzpenik
(khoots-PEN-ik) n. Impudent fellow; someone who has a lot of nerve.
2007-10-05 12:10:57 · answer #8 · answered by lauren s 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Chutzpah (××צפ×) = impudence, effrontery, presumption, forwardness, gall, immodesty, impertinence, impertinency, insolence, liberty, mouth, neck, nerve, perkiness, pertness, presumptuousness, rudeness, sauciness,
2007-10-05 13:51:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
chutzpah is... $6.00 per gallon gasoline!!!
2007-10-06 20:16:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋