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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to know what this word means?

137 replies

Sudafed73 · 26/02/2018 17:27

Today I used the word 'moxie' in a sentence and in turn the room looked at me like Confused. AIBU or is that an unusual word?

If it was a brand, what would you associate it with?

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 26/02/2018 17:41

Or probably gumption is a better description, but in a cool way.

ShowOfHands · 26/02/2018 17:41

I think of it as very American. I'd say gumption. An Australian, spunky.

popcorntime · 26/02/2018 17:41

It's also a small brand of tampons...

iklboo · 26/02/2018 17:41

I suppose it's better than saying you're full of spunk though Grin(ahh, regional variations in language).

PaperdollCartoon · 26/02/2018 17:42

Yep, cool, sassy, gumption all work. Generally only used for women I’d say. Definitely more American slang.

iklboo · 26/02/2018 17:42

X post @ShowOfHands

Sudafed73 · 26/02/2018 17:43

Grin @ poxy, same here pronunciation wise

popcorntime, tampon brand?

OP posts:
justpoppngby · 26/02/2018 17:43

It's always been used as 'having balls' as far as I've heard. I've heard it since I was young as my gran & grandad used to used it, they're cockneys though, not Americans :)
I do believe there are also sanitary products of the same name.

FrancisCrawford · 26/02/2018 17:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ViceAdmiralAmilynHoldo · 26/02/2018 17:44

I've googled it. I consider myself pretty well read but it's not a word I know. it doesn't mean I've not seen it in a US novel set in that era but I don't sit there with a dictionary when reading a book!

DollyPartonsBeard · 26/02/2018 17:45

I also thought of the tampons. I like the little tins they come in.

AIBU to know what this word means?
Sudafed73 · 26/02/2018 17:49

Ahh, I see, I'd never heard of the tampons - they're cute little tins!

OP posts:
FuckyNellYaBastad · 26/02/2018 17:51

Bare minerals do a moxie lip gloss

Trills · 26/02/2018 17:53

You're not being Unreasonable to know what it means, but you are being a bit Unusual.

Better than saying someone had spunk anyway :o

SilverHairedCat · 26/02/2018 17:55

Know what it means, but associate it with American films or musical of a certain age. Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma!, Calamity Jane etc.

geekymommy · 26/02/2018 18:00

It sounds pretty old-fashioned to me, and I am American. It sounds like something your grandparents would say.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 26/02/2018 18:02

It means "Sassy" to me. I think I've come across it in Stephen King, so hardly a mark of being widely read Grin

chipsandgin · 26/02/2018 18:05

I would presume an American slang word which when said in context becomes apparent, but I could understand a room full of English people being slightly baffled! My vocabulary is fairly wide but I wouldn't have been able to define the word out of context.

In fact a quick google shows it is on this list:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_American_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_Kingdom

Which would explain a lot!

mrssmooth · 26/02/2018 18:05

I immediately thought of Auf Wiedersehen Pet!!!

EggysMom · 26/02/2018 18:06

I don't recall seeing references in UK literature.
I've heard of it, but it's quite an American saying.

Ah well, I don't restrict my reading to only UK literature Wink

CavoliRiscaldati · 26/02/2018 18:06

sound like the smokey stuff my acupuncturist use

JoJoSM2 · 26/02/2018 18:08

I've just looked the word up as I'd never heard of it. The dictionary does say it's an American word, though.

jaimelannistersgoldenhand · 26/02/2018 18:08

I think I've heard it in US gangster/mob movies.

APontypandyPioneer · 26/02/2018 18:10

I've heard of that word before, sounds like poxy as a PP said. I always thought it meant a type of woman with vim, vigor a feisty energy? It has a "what ho old chap, round of croquet?" type vibe about it.

splendide · 26/02/2018 18:11

I saw a brilliant animation called Moxie a while ago. I hadn’t heard of it prior to that.

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