bold of you

USAGE SUMMARY

"bold of you" is not grammatically correct in written English.
You could instead use a phrase like "that was bold of you" or "you were bold". For example: "It was bold of you to take on such a difficult project" or "You were bold to speak up against your boss".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

SC: That is bold of you, Logan!

The New York Times

Uh, that's pretty bold of you". .

Vice

"I think it's very bold of you".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The problem is, though, that if you want to take advantage of bold people buying you dinner, you also have to accept the 15-minute garlic monologue thing too.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is a bold faced distortion of you want to be charitable.

Huffington Post

"Look, you guys can't BOTH be wearing Bold shirts, one of you guys take yours off" I said.

Vice

Just play the whole of Axis Bold of Love - I think you will.

BBC

This doesn't sound like the kind of bold talk you expect to hear from someone who will one day be deciding your basic rate of tax.

The Guardian - Music

Inside of bold action you may very well find the magic formula for innovative behavior and values.

Forbes

@DrLimes99.

Vice

"The dealers will come right to you in the middle of the day, in the center of town, bold as you like," one drug user told me.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to praise someone's daring or audacity, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "that was bold of you" or "how bold of you to..." to avoid sounding awkward.

Common error

Avoid omitting auxiliary verbs like "was" or "is" when using "bold" to describe someone's actions. Saying just "bold of you" can sound incomplete and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while grammatically suspect, functions as an evaluative comment, often expressing surprise or mild disapproval. It assesses the perceived audacity of an action. As noted by Ludwig AI, auxiliary verbs are frequently missing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "bold of you" is understandable, it's considered grammatically incorrect in written English. As Ludwig AI points out, the omission of auxiliary verbs is the key issue. Although sources like The New York Times and Huffington Post use the phrase, it's recommended to opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "that was bold of you" or "it was bold of you to..." especially in formal settings. The phrase typically conveys an evaluation of someone's actions, expressing surprise or mild disapproval. The sources shows that the expression is mostly present in News & Media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was audacious of you

Replaces "bold" with "audacious", implying a similar level of daring but with a slightly stronger emphasis on risk-taking.

it was daring of you to do that

Replaces "bold" with "daring" and adds "to do that" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

how very brave of you

Uses "brave" instead of "bold", emphasizing courage in the face of potential consequences.

that's quite a risk you took

Focuses on the element of risk involved in the action, rather than directly addressing the person's boldness.

you showed great audacity

Highlights the audacity displayed, focusing on the action's characteristic rather than the person.

it took guts to do that

Uses the informal term "guts" to express admiration for the person's courage.

that was quite a move

Understates the boldness, focusing simply on the action being a significant step.

you're certainly one to take chances

Implies boldness by stating the person's tendency to take risks.

you have some nerve

Implies boldness, sometimes with a negative connotation of being impudent or disrespectful.

that was unexpected

Understates the boldness to express surprise at someone's behaviour

FAQs

Is "bold of you" grammatically correct?

No, "bold of you" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's better to say "that was bold of you" or "it was bold of you to...".

What does "bold of you" mean?

The phrase means that someone has done something daring, audacious, or unexpectedly brave. However, it's often used sarcastically to imply disapproval.

What can I say instead of "bold of you"?

You can use alternatives like "that was audacious of you", "that was daring of you", or "how very brave of you" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "bold of you"?

It is best to avoid "bold of you" in formal contexts. In informal settings, it can be used, but be aware that it might be interpreted as sarcastic or disapproving. Grammatically correct alternatives are always safer.