how very dare you

English[edit]

Catchphrase from British TV comedy series The Catherine Tate Show (first broadcast in 2004).

(humorous, emphatic) Synonym of how dare you
- 2015, Carmel Harrington, Every Time a Bell Rings:
  '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.
- 2017, Howard Jacobson, The Dog's Last Walk (and Other Pieces):
  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.