Acting overly confident about yourself in an annoying way, like you think you're better than everyone else.
From the noun 'cock' (rooster) dating to the 1600s, referring to the bird's proud, strutting behavior. The '-y' suffix turns it into an adjective meaning resembling or having the qualities of a rooster.
Roosters are literally the source of cockiness—they strut around, crow at dawn, and act like they own the place, and English speakers found that behavior so recognizable they made it a personality trait.
Confidence in men is historically praised as leadership; same trait in women labeled 'cocky' or 'arrogant.' The gendered double standard reflects power dynamics favoring male assertiveness.
Reserve for actual overconfidence regardless of gender. Acknowledge confidence in women as equally valid.
["overconfident","self-assured","assertive"]
Women's professional confidence has been systematically pathologized; reclaim assertiveness as strength.
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