Effrontery

Noun

Definition: Shameless or insolent boldness; audacity.

Synonyms: Nerve, Impudence, Gall, Cheek, Boldness

Antonyms: Humility, Modesty, Shyness

Examples:

His effrontery in asking for a raise after his poor performance was astonishing.
The politician had the effrontery to lie to the public's face.

Mnemonics:

Think of "effrontery" as "effront" (pronounced like "front") and imagine someone boldly stepping in front of others, displaying insolence.

Etymology:

Origin:

From the French word "effronté," meaning shameless or impudent.

Historical Usage:

The word has been used since the mid-18th century to describe the act of showing audacious boldness or insolence.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"With effrontery"

Explanation:

Describing a person's audacious behavior or shameless display of arrogance.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "effrontery" with "efficiency."

Explanation:

"Effrontery" refers to an impudent or audacious behavior, while "efficiency" relates to the ability to accomplish tasks with minimum wasted effort or time. These two words have different meanings and should not be confused.