effrontery
ih-FRUN-tuh-reenounMeaning shameless boldness; the nerve to do something rude
Memory hook ef-FRONT-ery: cuts to the FRONT. Rex strolls past the long line, steps right to the front of it and tells the clerk to hurry up; that shameless nerve is effrontery.
After breaking our window, he had the effrontery to ask for his ball back.
In context The guest ate most of the cake before the birthday girl could blow out her candles, then had the effrontery to complain that it was too sweet.
Similar nerve, gall, audacity, cheek
Opposite humility, respect, modesty
From French effronterie, from Late Latin effrons, “shameless, barefaced”: ex- (out) + frons (forehead, face).