To have the courage to put forward, as an idea, especially when rebuff or criticism is likely

• venture

  1. An undertaking that is dangerous, daring, or of uncertain outcome.
  2. A business enterprise involving some risk in expectation of gain.
  3. Something, such as money or cargo, at hazard in a risky enterprise.

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• pretend

  1. To give a false appearance of; feign:
  2. To claim or allege insincerely or falsely:
  3. To represent fictitiously in play; make believe:

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• presume

  1. To take for granted as being true in the absence of proof to the contrary:
  2. To constitute reasonable evidence for assuming; appear to prove:
  3. To venture without authority or permission; dare:

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• hazard

  1. A chance of being injured or harmed:
  2. Risk or danger:
  3. A possible source of danger:

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To call on another to do something requiring boldness

• defy

  1. To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance:
  2. To refuse to submit to or cooperate with:
  3. To be beyond the application or scope of; be contrary or resistant to:

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• challenge

  1. A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition:
  2. An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation:
  3. A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question:

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To confront boldly and courageously

• front

  1. The forward part or surface, as of a building.
  2. The area, location, or position directly before or ahead.
  3. A position of leadership or superiority.

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• face

  1. The surface of the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin and from ear to ear.
  2. A person:
  3. A person's countenance:

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• defy

  1. To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance:
  2. To refuse to submit to or cooperate with:
  3. To be beyond the application or scope of; be contrary or resistant to:

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• challenge

  1. A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition:
  2. An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation:
  3. A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question:

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• brave

  1. Possessing or displaying courage.
  2. Making a fine display; impressive or showy:
  3. Excellent; great:

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• beard

  1. A growth of hair on the chin, cheeks, and throat of a person, especially a man.
  2. A tuft or growth of hairs, bristles, or other hairlike threads on a plant or animal.
  3. One who serves to divert suspicion or attention from another, especially a person of the opposite sex who accompanies a gay man or lesbian to give the impression of heterosexuality.

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An act of taunting another to do something bold or rash

• challenge

  1. A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition:
  2. An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation:
  3. A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question:

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To be courageous

• have the guts

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• have the nerve

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• shoot the works

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• take-the-bull-by-the-horns

  1. (idiomatic) To deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.

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• go-ahead

  1. Permission to proceed:
  2. Energetic assertiveness.
  3. Characterized by energy and assertiveness:

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• put up a bold front

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• muster courage

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• gather courage

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• nerve oneself

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• take-heart

  1. (idiomatic) to be courageous; to regain one's courage

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• go through fire and water

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• have the courage of one's convictions

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• despite danger

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• make bold

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• be bold enough to undertake

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• be not afraid

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• try-one-s-hand

  1. (idiomatic) To attempt a skill, craft, or trade possibly for the first time.

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• try

  1. To make an effort to do or accomplish (something); attempt:
  2. To taste, sample, or otherwise test in order to determine strength, effect, worth, or desirability:
  3. To make an effort to open (a closed door or window).

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• endeavor

  1. A conscientious or concerted effort toward an end; an earnest attempt.
  2. Purposeful or industrious activity; enterprise.
  3. To attempt (fulfillment of a responsibility or an obligation, for example) by employment or expenditure of effort:

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• attempt

  1. To try to perform, make, or achieve:
  2. To tempt.
  3. To try to seize or get control of by attacking.

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• stake

  1. A piece of wood or metal pointed at one end for driving into the ground as a marker, fence pole, or tent peg.
  2. A vertical post to which an offender is bound for execution by burning.
  3. Execution by burning. Used with the:

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• undertake

  1. To deliberately begin to do (something):
  2. To pledge or commit oneself (to do something):
  3. To promise or guarantee:

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• adventure

  1. An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.
  2. An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another state's affairs.
  3. An unusual or exciting experience:

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• presume

  1. To take for granted as being true in the absence of proof to the contrary:
  2. To constitute reasonable evidence for assuming; appear to prove:
  3. To venture without authority or permission; dare:

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• risk

  1. The possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger.
  2. A factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger; a hazard:
  3. The danger or probability of loss to an insurer.

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• brave

  1. Possessing or displaying courage.
  2. Making a fine display; impressive or showy:
  3. Excellent; great:

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• chance

  1. The unknown and unpredictable element in happenings that seems to have no assignable cause.
  2. A force assumed to cause events that cannot be foreseen or controlled; luck:
  3. The likelihood of something happening; possibility or probability:

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• hazard

  1. A chance of being injured or harmed:
  2. Risk or danger:
  3. A possible source of danger:

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• take-a-chance

  1. (idiomatic) To risk; to try something risky.

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• venture

  1. An undertaking that is dangerous, daring, or of uncertain outcome.
  2. A business enterprise involving some risk in expectation of gain.
  3. Something, such as money or cargo, at hazard in a risky enterprise.

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To defy

• measure swords with

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• face-the-music

  1. (idiomatic) to accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions

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• beard-the-lion-in-his-den

  1. (idiomatic) To confront an adversary in his or her own environment

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• bell-the-cat

  1. (idiomatic) To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.

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• put-one-s-foot-down

  1. (idiomatic) To insist, demand, or refuse.
  2. (informal, literally) To make a car go faster, accelerate.

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• kick against

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• look big

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• pluck by the beard

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• call-out

  1. An order or telephone call summoning a military unit, the police, or an emergency crew to a specified place.
  2. A distinct area of text separated from the main text of a document to emphasize items of noteworthy attention.
  3. An item, as in a list, included in such an area or otherwise identified as noteworthy.

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• double the fist at

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• look full in the face

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• call one's bluff

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• show fight

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• outbrave

  1. to surpass in bravery
  2. to face defiantly

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• outbrazen

  1. To bear down with a brazen face.
  2. To surpass in impudence.

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• throw-down-the-gauntlet

  1. (idiomatic) To issue a challenge.

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• face-up-to

  1. To confront a condition or situation, typically one that is unpleasant or uncomfortable.

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• stand-up-to

  1. To object to or interfere with the actions of (someone seen as bullying, pushy, or controlling).
  2. To withstand, to weather, to survive in spite of.

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• square-off

  1. to get ready for a fight
  2. to get in the fighting position

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• assume a fighting attitude

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• offer defiance to

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• laugh at

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• mock

  1. To treat with ridicule or contempt; deride:
  2. To imitate in fun or derision:
  3. To mimic or resemble closely:

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• bully

  1. A person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people.
  2. A hired ruffian; a thug.
  3. A pimp.

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• denounce

  1. To condemn openly as being wrong or reprehensible.
  2. To inform against (someone); accuse publicly.
  3. To give formal announcement of the ending of (a treaty).

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• spurn

  1. To reject with disdain or contempt.
  2. To kick at or tread on disdainfully.
  3. To reject something contemptuously.

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• threaten

  1. To express a threat against or give indications of taking hostile action against:
  2. To be a source of danger to; endanger:
  3. To give signs or warning of; portend:

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• resist

  1. To take action in opposition to; try to eliminate, reduce, or stop:
  2. To take action to defeat or thwart (an invading or occupying military force).
  3. To remain unaltered, undamaged, or unaffected by; withstand:

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• insult

  1. To treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness.
  2. To affront or demean:
  3. To make an attack on.

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• outdare

  1. To dare beyond; to be more bold or daring than.

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• scorn

  1. Contempt or disdain felt toward a person or object considered despicable or unworthy:
  2. The expression of such an attitude in behavior or speech; derision:
  3. The state of being despised or dishonored:

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• cope

  1. To contend or strive, especially on even terms or with success:
  2. To contend with difficulties and act to overcome them:

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• brave

  1. Possessing or displaying courage.
  2. Making a fine display; impressive or showy:
  3. Excellent; great:

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• disregard

  1. To pay no attention or heed to; ignore:
  2. To show no evidence of attention concerning (something):
  3. To treat without proper respect or attentiveness.

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• oppose

  1. To be or act in contention or conflict with:
  2. To be hostile or resistant to; try to prevent:
  3. To set as an opposite in position:

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• provoke

  1. To incite to anger or resentment:
  2. To stir to action or feeling:
  3. To give rise to; bring about:

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• front

  1. The forward part or surface, as of a building.
  2. The area, location, or position directly before or ahead.
  3. A position of leadership or superiority.

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• confront

  1. To come face to face with, especially with defiance or hostility:
  2. To bring face to face with:
  3. To come up against; encounter:

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• meet

  1. To come into the presence of by chance or arrangement:
  2. To come into the company of:
  3. To be introduced to; make the acquaintance of:

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• challenge

  1. A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition:
  2. An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation:
  3. A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question:

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