Posing a Risk: English Vocabulary List

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

"He walks a tightrope."

"Managing the company's finances during the recession felt like walking a tightrope, with every decision carrying significant risk."

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

"Starting a business is a roll of the dice."

"Starting a new business is always a roll of the dice because you never know if it will succeed or fail."

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

"Their plan was a house of cards that soon fell."

"Their seemingly perfect marriage was a house of cards that collapsed when the truth about the affair came out."

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

"The motorcycle race was full of thrills and spills."

"The roller coaster offered plenty of thrills and spills for the brave children who were not afraid of heights."

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

"Discussing politics at work is dangerous ground."

"Bringing up the topic of religion at a family dinner can be dangerous territory because people have very strong opinions."

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

"His job is hanging by a thread."

"The patient's life hung by a thread as the doctors worked through the night to save him from a rare disease."

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

"His life is on a razor's edge."

"The company's future is on a razor's edge because sales have dropped dramatically this quarter."

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

"The election result is on a knife-edge."

"The election results were on a knife-edge with both candidates receiving almost the same number of votes from the public."

a place or situation marked by confusion or chaos

"The meeting was a bear garden."

"The classroom devolved into a bear garden after the teacher left the room unexpectedly."

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

"The cat lies in wait."

"The tiger lay in wait behind the bushes for the perfect moment to attack its unsuspecting prey."

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

"Trusting him was a leap of faith."

"Moving to a new country without a job was a significant leap of faith for her."

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

"He laid his career on the line."

"The whistleblower laid his entire career on the line to expose the company's illegal activities."

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

"Do not run the risk please."

"If you invest all your savings in one stock, you run the risk of losing everything in the market crash."

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

"The rescue team went in harm's way."

"The firefighters deliberately placed themselves in harm's way to rescue the trapped residents from the burning building."

to be involved with very dangerous or cunning people

"She was swimming with sharks."

"Entering that cutthroat industry without experience felt like swimming with sharks, full of deceitful competitors."

to predict a severe, harmful or catastrophic event or outcome

"This will spell disaster for them."

"A prolonged drought could spell disaster for the region's agricultural economy and its inhabitants."

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

"He lives in the fast lane."

"She embraced a life in the fast lane, constantly seeking out extreme sports and dangerous adventures."

involving risk and uncertainty

"The surgery was touch and go."

"After the accident his condition was touch and go but the doctors managed to save his life."

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

"They lie in wait."

"The cunning predator decided to lie in wait near the watering hole for unsuspecting prey."