Meaning & use
saucily
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Meaning
adverb
In a way that is slightly rude but funny or sexually suggestive.
Grammar: Used to describe how someone speaks or behaves; often comes after the verb or at the start of a sentence.
Patterns
- say something saucily
- smile saucily
- reply saucily
She saucily told him to mind his own business.
He grinned saucily at the camera.
The comedian saucily teased the audience.
Common combinations
- saucily dressed
- She arrived saucily dressed in a short skirt and high heels.
- saucily wink
- He saucily winked at her across the room.
- saucily remark
- She saucily remarked that he was late again.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cheekily
- Cheekily is more about playful disrespect, while saucily often has a sexual hint.
- flirtatiously
- Flirtatiously focuses on romantic or sexual interest, whereas saucily can be just bold and funny.
Opposites
Word family
- saucy adjective
- Slightly rude or sexually suggestive in a playful way.
- sauciness noun
- The quality of being saucily bold or suggestive.
Commonly confused: saucily or sassy?
saucily vs sassy
Sassy means bold and confident, often rude, but usually without the sexual suggestion that saucy can have.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'saucily' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Saucily describes a bold, slightly rude or suggestive manner, so whispering a joke fits. The other options use it with actions that are not typically described as saucy.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “saucily”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.