Meanings
- UKemphatichumorousSynonym of how dare you.
There was something 'how very dare you' about Jeremy Corbyn's recent temper tantrum in rebuttal of the charge that the company he kept reflected badly on him.
2017, Howard Jacobson, The Dog's Last Walk (and Other Pieces)1 more example
'How very dare you! I'm a respectable lady, I'll have you know. I've never left my key ring in anyone's fruit bowl.' I feign outrage. I know what he's referring to, but it's still fun teasing him.
2015, Carmel Harrington, Every Time a Bell RingsSynonyms: how dare you
Synonyms & antonyms
interjectionSynonym of how dare you.
Origin
Catchphrase from British TV comedy series The Catherine Tate Show (first broadcast in 2004). An illogical blend of how dare you with "how very rude" or similar.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
how very dare you. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/how%20very%20dare%20you
“how very dare you.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/how%20very%20dare%20you. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “how very dare you,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/how%20very%20dare%20you.
Source: how very dare you on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.