bold move
Risky strategic action
A bold move is an action that involves risk or defies convention, often in pursuit of advantage.
The phrase implies courage or audacity—sometimes admiration, sometimes skepticism about the outcome: Quitting your job without a backup plan is a bold move.
In strategic contexts like chess or business, a bold move disrupts expectations: The acquisition was a bold move that surprised analysts.
- daringAdventurous courage
- riskyInvolving possible harm
- high stakesSignificant potential for loss
- roll the diceAccept uncertain outcome
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
leap · audacious · gutsy · fearless · plunge · big swing · venture · brazen · defiant · reckless · decisive · courageous · leap of faith · swagger · calculated · bluff · power play · aggressive
- taking risksdared, bet, gambled, risked, wagered
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- flirtingpickup line, wink, winking, hair flip, chat-up line
- risksrisk, gamble, bet, wager, chance it
- Winning Movesmasterstroke, coup, checkmate, game-winner, clutch play
- aggressive tacticsblitz, blitzkrieg, frontal assault, offensive, attack mode
bold moveplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
safe bet · safe choice · hedging one's bets · erring on the side of caution · measured response
bold movehesitation
Delay from uncertainty
inaction · fence-sitting · half-measure · dithering · paralysis
bold movegoing through the motions
Performing without genuine effort
business as usual · status quo · same old thing · standard procedure · same old same old
bold, move, bolder, boldest, boldly, boldness, embolden, emboldened, emboldening