bolshy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-to-mid (mainly UK)Informal
Quick answer
What does “bolshy” mean?
Deliberately uncooperative, difficult, rebellious, or confrontational.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Deliberately uncooperative, difficult, rebellious, or confrontational.
An attitude or behaviour characterised by defiance and a refusal to comply, often stemming from a sense of grievance or political radicalism. In management contexts, can describe a challenging employee or stance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a British English term. American English speakers are unlikely to use or recognise it; they would use alternatives like 'difficult', 'uncooperative', or 'confrontational'.
Connotations
In UK English, it carries historical/political overtones (Bolsheviks) alongside its core meaning. In the rare instances of American use, these historical connotations are likely lost, making it sound simply like a slang term for 'difficult'.
Frequency
Very common in UK informal contexts (media, politics, business, everyday speech). Extremely rare in US English and would likely be misunderstood.
Grammar
How to Use “bolshy” in a Sentence
be/get + bolshy (about sth)find sb/sth bolshyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bolshy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A (No standard verb form. One might say 'He's bolshying about the new rules', but this is non-standard and highly informal.)
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form. 'He answered bolshily' is theoretically possible but very rare.)
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The shop steward was getting decidedly bolshy during the negotiations.
- Don't be so bolshy – we're all on the same team here.
American English
- N/A (American equivalent): She's being really difficult about the schedule changes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe an employee or department that is being deliberately obstructive or resistant to management directives.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or political texts discussing British labour relations or social attitudes.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe a child, teenager, colleague, or neighbour who is being deliberately difficult or argumentative.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bolshy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bolshy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bolshy”
- Using it in formal writing. Spelling it as 'bolshie' (common variant). Assuming Americans will understand it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's informal and critical, but not offensive or swearing. It's similar to saying 'difficult' or 'uncooperative'.
It's not recommended. Most Americans will not be familiar with the term. Use 'difficult', 'uncooperative', 'confrontational', or 'rebellious' instead.
Both are British informal synonyms. 'Stroppy' often implies being bad-tempered and argumentative over a trivial matter. 'Bolshy' implies a more deliberate, principled (or pretendedly principled) refusal to cooperate, with a stronger historical/political connotation.
It is derived from 'Bolshevik', the radical faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party, known for their uncompromising stance. It entered British English in the early 20th century to describe similarly rebellious or uncooperative attitudes.
Deliberately uncooperative, difficult, rebellious, or confrontational.
Bolshy is usually informal in register.
Bolshy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒlʃi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊlʃi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't get bolshy with me!”
- “He's in a bolshy mood today.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOLShevik at a meeting, refusing all suggestions – very BOLSHY.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL REBELLION IS PERSONAL OBSTINACY (The qualities of a political revolutionary are mapped onto everyday stubbornness).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bolshy' MOST likely to be used correctly?