Insolence

[coccinelle]

Can anybody give me an example of insolence? My dictionary just says impertently insulting.

[bibblebub]

Are you that stupid that you can't find out for yourself?



would be an example

[craft1948]

I think it's being insulting to either your elders (if you are a child) or you "betters" if you are a peasant.

[joggerjayne]

Parent: "Go up and make your bed, please."

Child: "That's your job, not mine."

[sandyRoe]

And then there's 'dumb insolence'. Never quite understood that.

[ttfn]

e.g. - A youth standing in court, with his hands in his pockets, chewing gum and looking down at the floor could be described as showing insolence to the magistrates.

[sandyRoe]

ttfn, that's an excellent example of dumb insolence. ty

[ttfn]

it should be good sandy - been doing it a long time now !

[boxtops]

I think insolence has elements of rudeness and lack of caring in it, it's more unpleasant than cheek.

[mike11111]

Dumb insolence is showing contempt for the other person by means of body posture,facial expression &c rather than language.

[sandyRoe]

You're insolent to magistrates? get away...

[ttfn]

try having a look here coccinelle - they do give some egs from classical literature in bottom right hand corner. might help in future (:-))
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/insolence

[ttfn]

I do every time sandy rofl

[coccinelle]

Thank you all for your answers especially that link ttfn. That's what I was trying to distinguish boxtops, the difference beween that and cheek