English

Adjective

arsey ‎(comparative more arsey, superlative most arsey)

1. (slang, Britain) unpleasant, especially in a sarcastic, grumpy or haughty manner.
   • 2007, The Guardian, How to...... do work experience, April 30

     Work experience as an arsey teenager is pretty straightforward: disappear into the storeroom, smoke a few cigarettes, text your mates and watch the minute hand tick slowly by. If there's nowhere suitable to hide, all you need is a vacant computer and you can chat to your skiving associate in the building next door.

   • 2002, The Guardian, Sophie's world, interview with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, October 28

     "Oh, we had that singer in the other day and they were really arsey with us, and we only kept them waiting half an hour' - and I go, 'Hang on a minute, that's a long time and they've probably been doing lots of work that day and I think that it's actually justified for them to get annoyed.'"

   • 2000, Peter Billingham, Sensing the City Through Television: Urban Identities in Fictional Drama page 50

     First few months in, I was arsey as ****. Thought they were a right bunch of wankers.

Derived terms

• arsey-versy

Anagrams

• ayres, resay, sayer, Sayer, years