daresay
C1Formal, literary, somewhat old-fashioned or deliberate in modern use.
Definition
Meaning
To believe something is probably true, though not certain; to venture to say or suggest.
Often used as a parenthetical hedge or polite expression of personal opinion, conveying modest confidence or speculation. Implies a degree of personal intuition or assumption.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a fossilised compound verb, typically used in the first person present tense ('I daresay'). It expresses a tempered opinion, not a challenge (as 'dare' might otherwise imply). It can sometimes carry a slight concessive nuance ('I admit, I suppose').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common and idiomatic in British English. In American English, alternatives like 'I suppose,' 'I guess,' or 'I imagine' are strongly preferred.
Connotations
In BrE: can sound thoughtful, understated, or slightly archaic/upper-class. In AmE: may sound affected, deliberately British, or literary.
Frequency
High frequency in formal/literary BrE; low frequency in general AmE, where it is marked as a Briticism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
I daresay (that) + clauseI daresay + so/notVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As you/I daresay”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in very formal, conservative British correspondence to soften a prediction.
Academic
Occasional in humanities writing to express a scholarly hypothesis politely.
Everyday
Mostly British conversational use among older or more formal speakers.
Technical
Virtually never used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I daresay the train will be delayed again.
- I daresay you're right about the weather.
American English
- I daresay the proposal will meet some resistance.
- I daresay we've seen the last of that problem.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I daresay it will rain later.
- I daresay he's already left.
- I daresay the committee will reconsider its decision after this report.
- You're tired, I daresay, after such a long journey.
- I daresay his interpretation of the data is plausible, though not definitive.
- The critics will dismiss the play, but I daresay it will find a popular audience.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I DARE to SAY this opinion, but gently.' It's a single-word package for a polite assumption.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING (but dimly): 'I daresay' implies glimpsing a truth, not staring at it directly.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'осмелюсь сказать', which sounds overly dramatic or sarcastic in Russian. The functional equivalent is 'Полагаю' or 'Думаю'.
- Do not confuse with 'dare' as a challenge ('сметь'). The meaning here is of cautious belief, not bravery.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in other persons/tenses (*He daresays we're late) sounds unnatural.
- Spelling as two words (*I dare say) is common but the standard modern lexicographical form is 'daresay'.
- Using it for strong assertions instead of tempered opinions.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'daresay' most naturally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is extremely rare and sounds archaic or unnatural. The standard, almost exclusive use is 'I daresay'.
It is more formal and somewhat old-fashioned. In casual conversation, most speakers use 'I guess' or 'I suppose'.
Modern dictionaries list 'daresay' as a single, fused verb. 'I dare say' (two words) is an older variant still seen but 'daresay' is the standard lexical form.
It expresses a belief that is likely true, but with a degree of modesty or concession. It is more confident than 'maybe' but less certain than 'I am sure'.