take a dare
Verb phrase: 1. To accept a challenge to perform a risky or frightening act: To agree to do something dangerous or bold because someone has challenged you to do it. 2. To refuse a challenge to perform a risky or frightening act: To decline to do something dangerous or bold after being challenged. (Note: This less common meaning is based on the provided reference context, implying a dare can be "taken" by either accepting or refusing it. In widespread usage, "take a dare" typically means to accept it.)
The phrase "take a dare" describes the act of responding to a provocation or challenge, often from a peer. It is commonly used in contexts involving children, teenagers, or informal bets and challenges. - It is typically used in simple past or present perfect tenses (e.g., took a dare, has taken a dare). - The person who issues the challenge is often implied or mentioned with "from" (e.g., a dare from his friends).
- Accepting a dare:
- He took the dare to jump off the high diving board.
- I can't believe she took a dare to eat a whole chili pepper.
- Refusing a dare (less common):
- He was called a coward after he took the dare and walked away. (Context clarifies the refusal.)
- "to take someone up on a dare": A more formal or emphatic way to say you accept their specific challenge.
- She took him up on his dare to sing in front of the whole class.
- The activity following the dare is often expressed with an infinitive () or a prepositional phrase starting with "to" ().
- Dare (n): The challenge itself.
- It was a silly dare.
- Dare (v): To challenge someone.
- I dare you to tell the truth.
- Double dare (n): A more emphatic challenge, often used by children.
- He gave me a double dare to knock on the neighbor's door.
- Accept a challenge: A more general and formal term.
- Rise to the challenge: Suggests meeting the dare successfully.
- Back down (from a dare): Specifically means to refuse or withdraw from the challenge.
- Take on a dare: Functionally identical to "take a dare."
- She was brave enough to take on the dare.
- Chicken out (of a dare): (Idiomatic) To refuse to do something because of fear.
- He was supposed to skateboard down the ramp, but he chickened out.
- Truth or Dare?: The name of a party game where players choose between answering a personal question truthfully or performing a dare.
- We spent the evening playing Truth or Dare.
- be dared to do something and attempt it
- be dared to do something and not attempt it