hare
C1Formal (for the animal/culinary), Informal (for the verb 'to hare off'). Neutral in general descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A fast-running, long-eared mammal, similar to a rabbit but larger, with powerful hind legs, typically found in open country.
The term can also refer to the flesh of this animal as food, to the act of running very fast (as a verb), and features in numerous idioms and cultural references (e.g., the March Hare).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun for the animal. As a verb (chiefly BrE informal), it means 'to run or go very fast'. Distinct from 'rabbit' (smaller, lives in burrows). A 'hare' lives in a shallow nest (form).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb usage ('to hare off/away') is predominantly British informal. In American English, 'hare' is almost exclusively the noun for the animal.
Connotations
In BrE, the verb can imply hurried, often reckless movement. In both varieties, the noun carries folklore connotations (madness, speed, trickster).
Frequency
The noun is low-frequency but understood in both varieties. The verb is markedly more common in BrE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
(BrE) to hare off(BrE) to hare down/along/up [a road/path](BrE) to hare after someoneto run like a hareVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mad as a March hare”
- “Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds”
- “Start a hare (to raise a distracting topic)”
- “First catch your hare (advising against counting chickens)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually none, except metaphorically ('hare-brained scheme' for a reckless plan).
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and literature (e.g., Shakespeare, 'Venus and Adonis').
Everyday
For describing the animal seen in the countryside; in BrE, for describing someone rushing off.
Technical
In wildlife biology (species: Lepus europaeus, etc.), and in culinary contexts (on menus).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He just hared off down the lane without a word.
- The kids hared after the ice cream van.
American English
- (Rare) He took off like a hare down the trail.
adverb
British English
- (None directly. Adverbial use is via the verb phrase.)
American English
- (None directly.)
adjective
British English
- (Only in compound 'hare-brained') That's a hare-brained scheme if ever I heard one.
- He had a hare-lipped grin. (Note: 'hare lip' is now considered offensive; 'cleft lip' is preferred.)
American English
- Same as BrE for 'hare-brained'. 'Hare lip' usage similarly dated/offensive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a brown hare in the field.
- A hare is bigger than a rabbit.
- The hare ran very fast across the road.
- In the story, the hare was very confident.
- He suddenly hared off to catch the last train.
- The politician was accused of trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
- The decline in the mountain hare population is a serious concern for ecologists.
- Her proposal was dismissed as yet another hare-brained scheme lacking proper research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A HARE has huge HAIR on its ears. Also: The hare RAN in the AIR of the open field.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS A HARE ('He hared off'). FOLLY/RECKLESSNESS IS A MAD HARE ('hare-brained'). DECEPTION/DUPLICITY IS RUNNING WITH HARE AND HOUNDS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The Russian 'заяц' covers both 'hare' and 'rabbit'. In English, they are distinct animals. Using 'rabbit' for a hare is factually incorrect in biological contexts.
- The Russian verb 'мчаться' is a good equivalent for 'to hare off' in BrE.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'hare' with 'hair' in spelling/pronunciation. *'He has brown hare.' (incorrect) vs. 'He has brown hair.'
- Using 'hare' as a verb in AmE sounds odd. *'He hared to the store.' is more natural in BrE.
- Misidentifying a rabbit as a hare or vice versa.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the verb 'to hare off' most commonly used and understood?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Hares are generally larger, have longer ears and hind legs, are born fully furred with open eyes, and live in simple nests above ground. Rabbits are smaller, live in burrow systems, and give birth to blind, hairless young.
It is very uncommon and may sound unusual or like a Britishism. Americans would typically say 'dash off', 'run off', or 'bolt' instead.
Not inherently offensive, but it is a pejorative term meaning 'foolish' or 'reckless'. It originates from the old belief that hares were mad in March (their breeding season).
This comes from the observed erratic behaviour of hares during their breeding season in early spring (March in Europe), which involves boxing, leaping, and chasing. Lewis Carroll popularised it in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'.