sassing
Talking back; giving lip to somebody older.
Also called sassin', sass.
Updated September 24, 2026
sassing pronunciation
/SASS-in/
Meaning
Sassing is mouthing off when you ought to hush. In rural Southern homes it means disrespectful talk aimed at Mama, Daddy, a teacher, or any grown person. Don't you sass me is the classic warning. Related talk includes back-sass and plain old sass for the cheeky words themselves.
How folks use it
- “Quit sassing your mama or you'll be sitting on that porch awhile.”
- “Teacher sent him to the office for sassing her in class.”
Origin and etymology
From sass, clipped from saucy, meaning impudent. American English used sass and sass back by the late 1800s. Southern and Appalachian speech kept sassing as the everyday verb for talking back to elders. DARE also records back-sass.
Frequently asked questions
Is sassing the same as joking around?
Not usually. Down South it means disrespectful backtalk, especially to someone older.