bold /bəʊld $ boʊld/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: beald ]
1 . PERSON/ACTION not afraid of taking risks and making difficult decisions:
In a surprisingly bold move, he is threatening court action against the company.
My aunt Flo was a bold determined woman.
He had the ability to take bold imaginative decisions.
2 . MANNER/APPEARANCE so confident or determined that you sometimes offend people:
You should be feeling confident and bold when you meet your bank manager.
She marched into his office as bold as brass (=very confident and not showing enough respect) .
3 . COLOURS/SHAPES very strong or bright so that you notice them:
bold geometric shapes
Stripes are bold, bright, and fun to wear.
bold colours
4 . LINES/WRITING written or drawn in a very clear way:
an envelope addressed to her in a bold black hand
The graphics are bold and colourful.
The print should be bold and easy to read.
5 . PRINTED LETTERS printed in letters that are darker and thicker than ordinary printed letters:
All the headings are in bold type.
6 . make/be so bold (as to do something) formal to do something that other people feel is rude or not acceptable:
I see you have been so bold as to ask for food at this hour.
7 . if I may be so bold British English spoken formal used when asking someone a question, to show that you are slightly annoyed with them:
Tell me, if I may be so bold as to ask, precisely what you are talking about.
—boldly adverb
—boldness noun [uncountable]
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ a bold move
The newspapers described her resignation as a bold move.
▪ a bold step
The following year he made a bold step to expand his business.
▪ a bold attempt
It was a bold attempt to win back public confidence.
▪ a bold statement/assertion/claim
In a surprisingly bold statement, the couple said they had no intention of marrying.
▪ a bold decision
Deciding to emigrate is a bold decision for anyone to make.
▪ a bold initiative
Investors have become used to the company’s bold initiatives.
▪ a bold experiment
Making a film from the book was a bold experiment, and it worked.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ brave showing that you are not afraid to do things that other people find dangerous or difficult:
I think he was incredibly brave to do a parachute jump.
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a brave attempt to change the system
▪ courageous /kəˈreɪdʒəs/ especially written very brave – used especially about someone fighting for what they believe in, or fighting against a disease:
a courageous speech
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her courageous fight against cancer
▪ daring brave and willing to take a lot of risks:
a daring escape from a prison camp
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a daring fighter pilot
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a daring thing to do
▪ bold willing to make difficult decisions or say what you think, even though it may involve risks:
It was a bold move to set up his own company.
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She was very bold in criticizing the leadership.
▪ intrepid written willing to do dangerous things or go to dangerous places:
an intrepid traveller
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We sent our intrepid reporter to find out what is happening.
▪ adventurous used about someone who enjoys going to new places and doing new, possibly dangerous, things:
More adventurous visitors can go skiing or snowboarding.
▪ fearless not afraid of anything or anyone:
a fearless campaigner for human rights
▪ heroic very brave and admired by many people:
heroic rescuers
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Despite heroic efforts to save him, he died.
▪ plucky brave and determined – often used in newspapers:
Plucky Megan, aged 10, has beaten cancer twice.