French Expression · Advanced
Mettre au défi
To challenge / To dare
Pronunciation: meh-truh oh day-FEE
Meaning
To invite someone to engage in a contest, competition, or to prove their ability, often in a provocative way.
Example
Je te mets au défi de courir ce marathon.
I challenge you to run this marathon.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Mettre au défi out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a advanced-level French expression.