{"id":8866,"date":"2022-09-07T22:57:15","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T22:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=8866"},"modified":"2022-09-07T22:58:19","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T22:58:19","slug":"fortune-favors-the-bold-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/fortune-favors-the-bold-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Fortune Favors The Bold \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever been friends with someone who dives headfirst into challenges? Maybe there is someone you know who likes to take risks with the hope of an amazing outcome. If so, the phrase fortune favors the bold is an idiom that could aptly apply. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The phrase fortune favors the brave is a very common idiom that is used all over the world. It means that people who take riskier actions are those who also get bigger rewards. Another meaning is that people who choose to show courage will be rewarded with a fortune in great measure. The point of the idiom is to encourage people to take a chance on their dreams or even a simple decision that is not usually within their character.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are looking for a way to encourage someone to take a chance, mentioning that fortune favors the bold is a great way to do it. The entire purpose of the phrase is intended to spur action instead of measured consideration.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cThere is no point in waiting for an automatic promotion, take a chance, after all, fortune favors the bold\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe worse that can happen is that he says no when you ask him out, fortune favors the bold, to go for it\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to moving forward in business, fortune favors the bold and safe choices limit advancement\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no way to win this debate, fortune favors the bold and punishes the logical\u201d.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The phrase actually has two forms, both mean the same thing, but have different origins. Fortune favors the brave is a proverb in Latin that was first seen in 190-159 B.C. Terence was credited for the proverb initially. The agreed upon the first record of fortune favors the brave is in a play titled Phormio in 161 B.C. The play was written by Terance, who is a well-known Roman playwright. The phrase is a translation of the Latin term \u201cfortis fortuna adiuvat\u201d.<\/p>\n

The second form, fortune favors the bold is a phrase that is credited to the poet Virgil, who is also from Rome. He used the phrase in the Aeneid in 19 B.C. and the phrase was also used in its Latin form. Though the spelling of the words originally used in Latin was different, the idea behind both phrases is identical.<\/p>\n