if she dares

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if she dares" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a challenge or to imply that someone may be hesitant or afraid to take a certain action. Example: "I wonder if she dares to confront her boss about the unfair treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

If she dares, do we?

The New York Times

If she beats Stosur, that audience will grow considerably; if she dares to toy with our expectations and get past the quarter-finals... well, it doesn't bear thinking about.

The Guardian - Sport

Shirin Ebadi, a human-rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize-winner who has criticised the regime from abroad, has been threatened with prosecution on charges of tax evasion if she dares to return home.Even on calm days, Tehran wears a scowling, joyless aspect.

The Economist

She might not like the answer if she dares us again….

Vice

If she dares to state her age, she's given a "compliment," whether sincere or not, such as, "Wow.

Huffington Post

And, if she knows that her child is also being psychologically terrorized, beaten, and perhaps sexually abused, she will almost definitely lose custody if she dares mention this.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Only a conviction that what she wanted could exist, if she dared to find it".

The New York Times - Books

I can never understand this, a monster who kills her baby.' " But it was as if she dared herself.

The New York Times - Magazine

A lady risked her reputation and being impertinently ogled if she dared venture into this male precinct.

The Guardian

Legend has it that in ancient Greece, a woman could be killed if she dared witness a wrestling match on the hallowed grounds of Olympia.

The New York Times - Sports

FitzRoy ran out his guns, sailed close to the guard ship; hailed her & said that if she dared to fire another shot he would send his whole broadside into her rotten hull.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "if she dares" to subtly challenge or question someone's willingness to take a specific action, implying potential risks or social consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "if she dares" in highly formal or professional settings where a more direct or respectful tone is required. Alternatives like "if she chooses to proceed" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if she dares" functions as a conditional clause, introducing a hypothetical situation contingent on a woman's willingness to take a specific action. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if she dares" is a grammatically sound conditional construction often used to express doubt or challenge related to a woman's willingness to take a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. While the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, it may be less suitable for formal writing. Alternatives like "should she be so bold" or "if she is brave enough" can provide a more formal or direct tone. Using "if she dares" implies an element of risk or potential negative consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if she dares to proceed

Adds "to proceed" to clarify the action being dared.

if she has the audacity

Replaces "dares" with a stronger term emphasizing boldness or impudence.

if she has the nerve

Substitutes "dares" with a term that focuses on courage and impudence.

should she be so bold

Rephrases the sentence structure, emphasizing the hypothetical boldness of the action.

if she is brave enough

Replaces "dares" with a more direct expression of courage.

if she should venture

Offers a more formal alternative using "venture" to suggest risk or uncertainty.

if she takes the risk

Focuses on the aspect of risk-taking implied by daring.

if she's got the guts

Uses a more informal and colloquial expression for courage.

if she is willing to try

Shifts the focus to willingness rather than courage.

assuming she is courageous enough

Expresses the condition in terms of assumed courage.

FAQs

How can I use "if she dares" in a sentence?

Use "if she dares" to express doubt or challenge regarding someone's willingness to do something, such as, "I wonder if she dares to speak her mind at the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "if she dares"?

You can use alternatives like "if she has the courage", "should she be so bold", or "if she is brave enough", depending on the context.

Is "if she dares" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "if she dares" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider alternatives such as "if she chooses to" or "should she decide to" in more formal writing.

What does "if she dares" imply?

"If she dares" implies a sense of risk, challenge, or potential negative consequences associated with the action. It suggests that the action requires courage or boldness.