What it means
Means someone’s being lippy, stubborn, and deliberately hard work, the type who won’t be told and answers back just because they can. Often used for people getting stroppy with authority, kicking off, or refusing to play along. Comes from “Bolshevik”, so there’s that old whiff of rebelliousness. Annoying in a queue, sometimes useful in a meeting.
Usage examples
"He got bolshy with the bouncer, insisting his mate was definitely on the list, then had a proper strop when they still wouldn’t let him in."
"My daughter's been a bit bolshy since she turned fourteen, every request gets a sigh and an eye-roll."
"The new union rep is properly bolshy, he's already filed three grievances against the canteen rota."
"Don’t get bolshy with me just because I said your parking’s awful, mate."
"She went all bolshy when the manager told her to redo the till count."
Where it comes from
British shortening of Bolshevik, in use from the 1920s after the Russian Revolution shoved that word into everyday English. Over time the heavy political bit faded off, and bolshy stuck around as a handy way to call someone defiantly awkward, mouthy, and dead set on not being told what to do.
Other ways to say it
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