audacity
The surprising and rude courage to do something that most people think you should not do.
Bold behavior that shows a lack of respect for rules, limits, or other people; nerve.
Strong, brave confidence that makes someone ready to try big or risky things, especially to change or create something.
A brave and confident willingness to take risks, especially to achieve something new, creative, or difficult.
- Base: audacity
- Plural: audacities, audacity
have the audacity to
1dare to do something shocking
To do something that is rude, shocking, or surprising, in a very bold way, without feeling shy or guilty about it.
- He had the audacity to ask for more money after arriving two hours late.
- She had the audacity to criticize everyone else’s work, even though she hadn’t finished her own.
- They even had the audacity to park in the space reserved for ambulances.
the audacity of
1comment on someone’s nerve
Used to strongly complain about how rude, bold, or shocking someone’s action is.
- The audacity of that guy, talking over everyone as if he owned the place!
- The audacity of the company to raise prices again is unbelievable.
the sheer audacity of
1extreme level of audacity
Used to emphasize that someone’s rude, bold, or surprising action is very strong or extreme.
- The sheer audacity of their plan took everyone by surprise.
- We laughed at the sheer audacity of his excuse.