Meaning & use
balsy
Last updated
UK/ˈbɔːlsi/
US/ˈbɔːlsi/
Meaning
adjectivecomparableinformalslang
Showing a lot of nerve by doing something bold or risky that others might hesitate to try.
Grammar: Works before a noun or after be: a balsy move, or that was balsy.
Patterns
- a balsy move
- balsy of someone to do something
Quitting his job to start a bakery was a balsy move.
It was pretty balsy of her to correct the boss in front of everyone.
The rookie made a balsy call and went for the win.
Word forms
| comparative | balsier |
|---|---|
| superlative | balsiest |
Common combinations
- a balsy move
- Moving across the country with no job lined up was a balsy move.
- a balsy decision
- The coach made a balsy decision to bench the star.
- pretty balsy
- That was pretty balsy of you.
- a balsy play
- The quarterback attempted a balsy play on fourth down.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bold
- Bold is neutral and fits any register, while balsy is informal and slightly rude.
- daring
- Daring stresses willingness to take a risk, whereas balsy suggests cheeky confidence.
- gutsy
- Gutsy means nearly the same but is milder and fully acceptable in most casual settings.
- audacious
- Audacious is a formal word that can also suggest disrespect, while balsy is casual slang.
Opposites
Word family
- balls noun
- slang for courage, the root of the adjective
- balsiness noun
- the quality of being balsy
Commonly confused: balsy or balmy?
balsy vs balmy
Balmy describes pleasantly warm weather and has nothing to do with boldness.
Practice
Asking for a raise on your first day was pretty ____.
Choose one answer.
Balsy means boldly daring. Bashful means shy, which is the opposite, and the others do not describe an action.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “balsy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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