have the audacity

USAGE SUMMARY

"have the audacity" is a correct phrase to use in written English.
It means to have the boldness or nerve to do something, often something considered to be rude or wrong. For example: "He had the audacity to show up to my party uninvited."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We should have the audacity to make that our aim.

The Guardian

They have the audacity to be commentating in French.

The Guardian - Sport

"I was very shocked that someone would have the audacity," she said.

The New York Times

"For Johnny Depp to have the audacity to want to play Tonto is totally unforgivable".

Independent

Does he have the audacity, to borrow one of Mr. Obama's favorite words, to lead?

The New York Times - Books

We should have the audacity to hope that this is so.

The New York Times

"How could you have the audacity to give advice?," people scolded him, he said.

The New York Times

"I think its ridiculous that people have the audacity to complain about the vuvuzela.

The Guardian - Sport

On the other hand, society often penalizes those who have the audacity to tell the truth.

The Guardian - Opinion

The owners have the audacity to bad-mouth their product, which takes the form of players.

The New York Times - Sports

Her biography should have the audacity, color and angularity of her paintings.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow the phrase with an infinitive verb (to + verb) to specify the action being criticized, such as "have the audacity to suggest".

Common error

Do not use "have the audacity" as a simple synonym for bravery unless you intend to highlight a defiant or unconventional edge. For purely positive acts of courage, use "have the courage" instead to avoid sounding critical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have the audacity" functions as a transitive verb phrase typically followed by a to-infinitive. It serves to characterize a specific action as being remarkably bold or impudent. According to Ludwig, it is almost always used to frame the subject's behavior as a breach of social or professional decorum.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

General

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

2%

Technical Documentation

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have the audacity" is a powerful and versatile idiom in English writing. Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and highly frequent phrase, primarily used to criticize behavior that is seen as shockingly bold or disrespectful. While it usually carries a negative connotation of impudence, it can occasionally be used to praise those who challenge the status quo. When using this phrase, writers should be mindful of its inherent weight; it is more than just a synonym for courage, it is a marker of defiance. Whether you are reading it in The New York Times or using it in a sharp critique, it remains one of the most effective ways to highlight a lack of shame or an excess of daring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have the nerve

more informal and common in spoken dialogue

have the gall

emphasizes the bitterness or offensive nature of the boldness

have the temerity

a more formal and sophisticated alternative

have the effrontery

extremely formal, focusing on shamelessness

have the cheek

primarily British English, implying a lighter sense of impudence

be so bold as to

polite or archaic structure often used when asking for something

have the brass neck

idiomatic expression for being completely shameless

have the guts

focuses on the courage required rather than the social inappropriateness

have the front

slang usage implying a deceptive or brave exterior

possess the courage

removes the negative connotation of impudence entirely

FAQs

How do I use "have the audacity" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone doing something shockingly bold, for example: "I can't believe they would "have the audacity to complain" after everything we did for them".

Is "have the audacity" always negative?

While often used to denote rudeness, it can be used positively to describe someone who has the "audacity to hope" or disrupt a stagnant industry. However, the tone usually remains one of defiance.

What can I say instead of "have the audacity" in a formal report?

In formal writing, you might prefer "have the temerity" or simply "be so bold as to" depending on whether you wish to maintain the critical tone.

What's the difference between "have the audacity" and "have the nerve"?

Both are very similar, but "have the nerve" is slightly more colloquial, whereas "have the audacity" is frequently found in high-quality journalism and literature.