moxie
/ˈmɒksi
/(also moxy)
noun [mass noun] North American informal
Force of character, determination, or nerve: when you’ve got the moxie, you need the clothes to match...
- We live longer and I think that we have more strength, determination, grit and moxie.
- The dog consisted entirely of nerves, springs and moxie, and brought out the puppy in Jasper Dog.
- I admired its moxie, its determination to be nothing more than a cheesy, exploitative, effects-driven popcorn movie.
Origin
1930s: from Moxie, the proprietary name of a soft drink.