필리핀어학연수 유학기업 필자닷컴

English idioms relating to "SAFETY"

이름 : jilo
작성일 : 2011-10-06
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English idioms relating to
SAFETY - DANGER


Baton down the hatches	When you baton down the hatches, you prepare yourself for trouble or a forthcoming difficult period, like a ship preparing for a storm. "Here comes that trouble-making guy. Baton down the hatches!."
Calculated risk	A calculated risk is a risk taken with full knowledge of the dangers involved. "The company took a calculated risk when they hired Sean straight out of college."
Throw caution to the wind	If someone throws caution to the wind, they stop caring about the possible dangers and start taking risks. "The weather was so good, he threw caution to the wind and went sailing alone."
The coast is clear	To say that the coast is clear means that there is no danger in sight, or that nobody can see you. "OK. The dog has gone inside. The coast is clear."
Cry wolf	To cry wolf is to call for help when you are not really in danger. As a result, nobody believes you when you really need help. "There's Mary screaming again! Does she really have a problem or is she just crying wolf again?"
Dice with death	If you put your life at risk by doing something very dangerous, you dice with death. "Going mountain-climbing alone is dicing with death."
Eyes in the back of one's head	To say that someone has eyes in the back of their head means that they are very observant and notice everything happening around them. "You need eyes in the back of your head to look after young children."
False move	In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make a false move, you do something which may have unpleasant consequences. "He is under close surveillance. If he makes one false move he'll be arrested."
Fraught with danger	An activity or situation that is fraught with danger is full of risks or serious difficulties. "His journey across the mountains was fraught with danger."
By a hair's breadth	If you avoid or miss something by a hair's breadth, you only just manage to escape from a danger. "A slate fell off the roof and missed the child by a hair's breadth."
Hang on for dear life	If you hang on for dear life, you grip something firmly so as not to fall. "Andy took his mother on the back of his motorbike where she hung on for dear life!"
Keep your back covered	If you do something in case a problem arises later for which you might be blamed, you keep your back covered. "You'd better make a copy of that letter to keep your back covered."
Live to tell the tale	Someone who lives to tell the tale survives a terrible experience. "Only two members of the expedition lived to tell the tale."
Look before you leap	This is something you say when advising someone to think carefully about the possible problems before doing something. "Don't decide too quickly. Look before you leap!"
A no-go area	A no-go area is an area, particularly in a city, where it is dangerous to go. "Tourists have been advised to avoid parts of the city which have become no-go areas."
Play with fire	People who take unnecessary risks or behave in a dangerous way are playing with fire. "Driving alone on isolated roads is playing with fire."
Put your head on the block	If you put yourself in a situation where you risk losing reputation or your job if things go wrong, you put your head on the block. "Jenny asked me to recommend her son for the job but I'm not prepared to put my head on the block for someone I hardly know."
Ride (something) out	If you manage to survive a dangerous or very unpleasant situation, you ride it out. "His business was hit by the recession but he managed to ride it out."
Risk life and limb	If you risk life and limb, you are in danger of death or serious injury. "The roads are icy today; you'll risk life and limb if you go by car."
In safe hands	If something is in safe (or good) hands, it is being looked after by a reliable person or organization, and is therefore at no risk. "I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't worry - he'll be in safe hands."
On the safe side	If you do something to be on the safe side, you want to avoid taking any risks. "I think I locked the door, but I'll check again to be on the safe side."
Safety in numbers	This expression means that being part of a group makes people feel more secure and more confident when taking action. "None of the group went sightseeing alone, knowing that there was safety in numbers."
Sail close to the wind	If you sail close to the wind, you do something dangerous or act just within the limits of what is legal or acceptable. "He seems to invest his money well although he often sails close to the wind."
Save one's neck/skin	If you manage to escape from serious danger or trouble, you save your neck (or your skin). "He saved his neck by jumping off the bridge just before it collapsed."
At stake	Someone who has a lot at stake is in a risky situation, with a lot to be won or lost. "He was nervous about signing the agreement because there was a lot at stake."
Take one's life in one's hands	To say that someone is taking their life in their hands means that they are taking the risk of being killed. "If you drive home on this icy road, you'll be taking your life in your hands."
Out of harm's way	If you put something out of harm's way, you put it in a safe place where it won't get damaged. "I'm going to put this glass bowl out of harm's way so that it doesn't get broken."
Watch one's step	If you tell someone to watch their step, you are advising them to be careful how they behave or speak in order to avoid getting into trouble. "There is zero tolerance in this school for bad behaviour so watch your step! "
Wrapped up in cotton wool	To say that someone is wrapped up in cotton wool means that they are over-protected from dangers and risks. "Their children are kept wrapped up in cotton wool."