DARE

(BE BRAVE/RUDE) [verb] he/she/it dares or dare - to be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous, or to be rude or foolish enough to do something that you have no right to doI was going to ask if his dog was any better, but I didn't dare in case it had died.Everyone in the office complains that he smells awful but nobody dares actually (to) mention it to him. [+ (to) infinitive]Dare you tell him the news? [+ infinitive without to]Do you dare (to) tell him the news? [+ (to) infinitive]Would you dare (to) jump out of an aeroplane? [+ (to) infinitive]I wouldn't dare have a party in my flat in case the neighbours complain. [+ infinitive without to]I showed him my new blouse but I didn't dare/(formal) I dared not tell him how much it cost. [+ infinitive without to]I daren't/(formal) dare not think how much it's going to cost. [+ infinitive without to]I don't dare (to) think how much it's going to cost. [+ (to) infinitive]I'd never dare (to) talk to my mother the way Ben talks to his. [+ (to) infinitive]I don't know how he dares (to) say that I'm lazy, when he's been in bed all day! [+ (to) infinitive]He was under attack for daring to criticize the Prime Minister. [+ to infinitive]See also daresay.USAGE: When followed by 'to' + infinitive, the he/she/it form of 'dare' is 'dares'. When used on its own, or followed by an infinitive without 'to', the he/she/it form is either 'dare' or 'dares': "Why doesn't she admit what she did?" "I don't think she dare/dares." In questions and negative sentences, you can follow 'dare' with either 'to' + infinitive or with an infinitive without 'to'. But in ordinary positive sentences, it can only be followed by 'to' + infinitive.(dated or humorous) Dare I say (it), you're looking particularly lovely today, my dear.If you say How dare someone do a particular thing, you mean that you are very angry with them for having done it.How dare you use my car without asking.How dare he tell me what to do!(esp. humorous) If you say Don't/Just you dare to someone, you mean that they should not do something that they have said they are going to do, because it will make you angry."I think I'll just walk my dirty shoes over your nice clean floor." "Don't you dare!"