Uppity describes a person who acts as if they are better or more important than they really are, especially by not showing proper respect to people who expect it. It is a criticism, always. If you call someone uppity, you are saying they have stepped above the place you think they belong. The word is informal and a little old-fashioned, and it carries a strong smell of the speaker's own attitude: a boss might call a young worker uppity for asking questions, a parent might call a child uppity for arguing back.

Uppity describes a person who acts as if they are better or more important than they really areUppity形容一個人表現得比實際上更厲害、更重要, especially by not showing proper respect to people who expect it尤其是對該被尊重的人表現得不夠尊重。It is a criticism, always這永遠是一種批評。If you call someone uppity如果你說一個人uppity, you are saying they have stepped above the place you think they belong你是在說他們超出了你認為他們該待的位置。The word is informal and a little old-fashioned這個字口語又有點過時, and it carries a strong smell of the speaker's own attitude而且帶著濃濃的說話者自己的態度: a boss might call a young worker uppity for asking questions老闆可能會因為年輕員工發問而說他uppity, a parent might call a child uppity for arguing back父母可能會因為小孩頂嘴而說他uppity。

Here is the part learners must know. In American English, uppity has an ugly history. It was used by white speakers about Black people who refused to be servile, and that use is still close enough to the surface that the word can land as racist, especially in phrases like 'uppity' plus a group name. Many Americans now hear the word as a warning sign about the speaker, not about the person being described.

Here is the part learners must know這是學習者一定要知道的部分。In American English, uppity has an ugly history在美式英文裡，uppity有一段很難看的歷史。It was used by white speakers about Black people who refused to be servile它曾被白人用來說那些不肯卑躬屈膝的黑人, and that use is still close enough to the surface that the word can land as racist而這種用法到現在都還沒有離得夠遠，所以這個字仍可能顯得帶有種族歧視, especially in phrases like 'uppity' plus a group name尤其是在'uppity'後面加上某個族群名稱的說法裡。Many Americans now hear the word as a warning sign about the speaker現在很多美國人聽到這個字，會把它當成關於說話者本人的警訊, not about the person being described而不是關於被形容的那個人。

In British and Australian English it is milder and mostly about class or attitude — 'don't get uppity with me' just means 'don't take that tone'. Because you cannot control which ear is listening, this is a word to understand when you read it and to avoid when you write. Safer choices: arrogant, stuck-up, disrespectful, full of himself.

In British and Australian English在英式和澳式英文裡 it is milder and mostly about class or attitude它語氣溫和許多，主要是在講階級或態度 — 'don't get uppity with me'像'don't get uppity with me' just means 'don't take that tone'意思就只是「別用那種口氣跟我講話」。Because you cannot control which ear is listening因為你沒辦法控制聽的人是誰, this is a word to understand when you read it and to avoid when you write這個字是「看得懂就好，自己寫作時盡量避免」的那種字。Safer choices比較安全的替代字: arrogant, stuck-up, disrespectful, full of himself有arrogant（自大）、stuck-up（自命不凡）、disrespectful（不尊重人）、full of himself（自我感覺良好）。