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Glite Dictionary
to offer a dance

to offer a dance

2.5
Invite someone to dance with you at a party
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈɔfər ə dæns/
translation icon : invitar a bailar
  • He nervously approached Sophia and offered her a dance at the party.

Examples

  • At the wedding, several guests eagerly offered a dance to the bride.

  • She offered a dance to her best friend.

  • Would you mind if I offer you a dance before the music ends?

  • Would you like to offer a dance?

  • At the wedding reception, he confidently offered a dance to his partner, inviting her to enjoy the lively music.

  • During the formal gala, she graciously offered a dance to her date, creating a romantic atmosphere.

  • After a few moments of hesitation, he finally offered a dance to the beautiful woman across the room.

Synonyms

to invite
vsto offer a dance
∞ 1.0

To ask someone politely to come or take part in an event

asks specifically to take part in a partnered activity at a social event

Antonyms

to turn down
312 2.9

Refuse an offer, invitation, or request

How Direct

to insist
∞ 2.8
to offer a dance
2.5
to gesture
62 3.0

Surface Forms

offer a dance infinitive
offered a dance past
offered a dance past participle
offering a dance present participle
offers a dance third person singular

Morphology

offer + a + dance

The meaning 'invite someone to dance' is directly and transparently built from 'offer' (to propose or present) plus 'dance' (the activity of dancing); a learner who knows both words can infer that someone is proposing a dance. The indefinite article 'a' is grammatical only and does not block compositional interpretation; this verb+noun pattern is common cross-linguistically, so it should be immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Offer a dance comes from the old custom of asking someone to dance by holding out your hand or arm to them. To offer means to hold out something and a dance is the event you invite them to join, so the phrase now means 'to invite someone to dance'.