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Danger - Posing a Risk

Explore English idioms that relate to posing a risk with examples like "a roll of the dice" and "swim with sharks".

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English idioms related to Danger
to [walk|tread] a tightrope

to be in a situation where one has to be careful about every decision they make because even one mistake can pose a great risk

Ex: I’m walking a tightrope at the moment; one more mistake and I might lose my job. 
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a roll of the dice

used for referring to a risky action that may fail or succeed

Ex: Starting a new business is always a roll of the dice; success is never guaranteed. 
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house of cards

a situation, plan, system, etc. that is not stable enough to continue succeeding and can easily fail or get out of control

Ex: Their financial success was like a house of cards, relying on unsustainable investments and shaky business practices. 
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thrills and (spills|chills)

the kind of excitement that comes from engaging in activities that are dangerous

Ex: Traveling to remote and unexplored places brings not only thrills and spills but also the opportunity to learn and grow. 
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dangerous (ground|territory)

a situation in which someone's words or actions must be chosen carefully or else they may cause serious problems

Ex: Bringing up politics at a family dinner can be dangerous territory, as it often leads to heated arguments. 
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to [hang] by a (thread|hair)

to be in a state or situation so critical that even a minor mistake can lead to a failure or disaster

Ex: The mayor's political future has been hanging by a thread since the fraud scandal. 
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in the fast lane

in a way that involves danger yet is full of excitement and adventure

Ex: Ever since he started traveling the world as a freelance photographer, he's been living life in the fast lane, capturing breathtaking but risky shots. 
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touch and go
touch and go
[phrase]

involving risk and uncertainty

Ex: It's touch and go whether he'll pull through at the end of this month. 
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on a razor's edge

in a very critical situation where the outcome is uncertain and any sort of mistake can lead to serious consequences

Ex: The company's financial stability is on a razor's edge, with mounting debts and declining profits. 
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on a knife-edge

in a very dangerous or difficult situation in which a small change can lead to a failure

Ex: The outcome of the championship game hung on a knife-edge, with both teams tied in the final seconds. 
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bear garden

a place or situation marked by confusion or chaos

Ex: The classroom turned into a bear garden when the substitute teacher lost control of the students. 
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to [lie] in wait

to secretly wait for the right time to catch or attack an enemy or prey

Ex: The gunmen were lying in wait when Mr Predit came out of the hotel. 
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leap of faith

an action that involves taking the risk to believe or trust something that may not be true or reliable

Ex: Starting a new business requires a leap of faith, as success is not guaranteed. 
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to [lay] {sth} on the line

to put something valuable or important at risk, often with the intention of assisting or helping someone

Ex: The coach decided to lay his reputation on the line by benching the star player for disciplinary reasons. 
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to [run] the risk of {sth}

to be in or to get oneself into a situation that may result in an unpleasant or dangerous outcome

Ex: By not wearing a helmet while biking, you run the risk of a head injury in case of an accident. 
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in harm's way

in a situation where there is potential danger or risk to one's safety or well-being

Ex: The brave firefighters went in harm's way to rescue people trapped in the burning building. 
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to [swim] with sharks

to be involved with very dangerous or cunning people

Ex: The young entrepreneur decided to swim with the sharks by seeking venture capital for his startup. 
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to [spell] disaster

to predict a severe, harmful or catastrophic event or outcome

Ex: The large cracks in the dam spelled disaster for the nearby town. 
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