These words describe shameless, bold or arrogantly brusque behaviour. Brashness indicates a decisive, insistently aggressive or come-what-may attitude. When the word is approving, it expresses wonder or admiration for someone’s audacity and zest; more commonly, it is used to criticize a rash lack of judgement or a lack of consideration for others: the brashness of such a small country in successfully defending itself against its enemies; a foolhardy brashness that often tempted him to tackle situations he knew nothing about; the brashness with which he pushed his way to the top of the heap, injuring the feelings of everyone else in the office. The word can also point to a garish vulgarity of taste: The brashness of his sports clothes almost made my eyeballs ache. Sauciness suggests, instead, an imperious, insouciant and haughty manner, often exhibited in an inferior or in someone replying sharply or out of turn: the sauciness of that impertinent little salesgirl; the indignant sauciness with which he refused to take his nap. Often, the word can be used humorously or affectionately to describe the spirited display of someone who is weak or powerless: the roguish sauciness of a small kitten: the boy’s sauciness in grandly declining to play house with his older sister.

The remaining words are all extremely informal words for the idea of brazen insolence and self-seeking. Of these, however, only nerve can function with either positive or negative force. When approving, the word points to cool self-possession and courage in acting against odds: It took nerve for him to stand up for his rights in an atmosphere thick with recrimination and threats of reprisal. In disapproval, nerve suggests a shameless disregard for good taste or manners: Imagine the nerve of him, asking her to stay with him for the night! Brass , hide and cheek indicate an insistent and insolent self-assurance. Brass is the most disapproving of the three, suggesting a coarse or ingrained lack of sensitivity to the feelings of others: He had the brass to tell me I had no right to correct him. Hide is less strong but still has a connotation of deliberately insensitive behaviour: the hide of him, arriving 40 minutes late. Cheek is milder in suggesting a smug self-regard that prompts uncritical, brazen or tasteless behaviour: the cheek to ask for a rise after a week in his new job. Like sauciness , the word can be used humorously or affectionately for a cute forwardness in one’s inferiors: the cheek of the boy in asking for another helping of dessert. Gall is the most severely disapproving of all these words, suggesting shameless acts of unwarranted discourtesy: the gall to invite himself to tea. But the word is very general, applying to any act one dislikes.