Danger - Cautiousness

Discover how English idioms like "walk on eggshells" and "on the lookout for" relate to cautiousness in English.

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to [throw|cast|fling] caution to the [wind] [phrase]

to start acting in a risky way without caring about its consequences

Ex: Castigating advice from friends , he flung caution to the wind and pursued his dream of becoming an actor .

eagle eye [noun]

an observation that is done very carefully

easy does it [sentence]

used to advise someone to proceed with caution or be careful with something

Ex: When lifting the piano , " easy does it , " or you might strain your back .

to [look] before {sb} [leap] [phrase]

to consider all the possible outcomes of one's action before doing it

Ex: Before making a substantial financial investment , it 's wise to " look before you leap " and conduct thorough research .

on the lookout for {sb/sth} [phrase]

constantly paying attention to a person or thing to prevent a problem, danger, etc.

Ex: When house-hunting , they were on the lookout for a property with a spacious backyard .

to [play] (it|) safe [phrase]

to act in a careful manner to prevent any possible risks from happening

Ex: In financial planning , it 's wise to play it safe by diversifying your investments to minimize risk .

to [keep|have] (all|) {one's} wits about {sb} [phrase]

to be prepared to handle things properly in case of danger or unpleasant events

Ex: While hiking in the wilderness , it 's crucial to keep your wits about you to navigate safely .

to [walk|be] on eggshells [phrase]

to be extra cautious about how one behaves or talks to avoid making someone offended or upset

Ex: When discussing sensitive topics with her friend , she knew she had to walk on eggshells to avoid hurting their feelings .

to [keep] an eye on {sb/sth} [phrase]

to closely watch a person or thing, particularly in order to make sure they are safe

Ex: The teacher reminded the students to keep an eye on the clock so they would finish the exam on time .

to [keep] {sb} on {one's} toes [phrase]

to make a person be constantly worried about or ready for any possible danger or threat

Ex:

to [tiptoe] around {sth} [phrase]

to decide not to deal with a problem directly out of the fear that it may make things worse

Ex: In a diplomatic negotiation , it 's important to tiptoe around sensitive issues to maintain a harmonious atmosphere .

to [tiptoe] around {sb} [phrase]

to pay close attention to how to talk to someone or behave toward them because they can become offended or upset easily

Ex: Jane 's friends often tiptoe around her when she 's stressed , as they do n't want to add to her anxiety with heavy topics .

to [drop] {sb/sth} like a hot (potato|brick) [phrase]

to stop being involved with a person or thing that might cause problems for one

Ex: When the scandal broke , the politician 's colleagues dropped him like a hot potato to protect their own reputations .

to [kick] the tires [phrase]

to closely examine or assess the condition of something, particularly a vehicle or machinery

Ex: Before buying a used car , it 's a good idea to kick the tires and have a mechanic inspect it for hidden issues .

to [hedge] {one's} bets [phrase]

to support both sides in a competition or conflict in order to protect oneself against loss

Ex: When choosing a career path , he decided to hedge his bets by gaining skills in both marketing and finance .

on notice [phrase]

used to indicate that someone has been warned or informed about something

Ex: The company was placed on notice by the environmental agency for failing to meet pollution control standards .

Danger
Cautiousness	Posing a Risk	Out of Danger	Taking Too Much Risk
Danger & Threat	Asking for Trouble	Conflict & War	Violence
Death