IELTS Idioms for Safety and Risk

ielts-idioms-for-safety-and-risk
1) by the skin of your teeth
Meaning- If you do something by the skin of your teeth you just manage to do it but very nearly fail.
Example- In the men's First Division,  the champions survived by the skin of their teeth.

2) a close shave
Meaning- If someone has a close shave they very nearly have a  bad accident or very nearly suffer a defeat.
Example- McGregor had a close shave when a seven-foot polar bear ran at him while he was filming a documentary about the animals in Canada.

3) the coast is clear
Meaning- If the coast is clear you are able to do something because nobody is there to see you doing it.
Example- 'You can come out now,' he called. 'The coast is clear.  She's gone!'

4) a good bet or a safe bet
Meaning- If something is a good bet or a  safe bet it is a sensible or useful thing to do or use.
Example- If you want something smart to wear to a friend's wedding, a dark suit is a good bet.
Example- I was going to buy an apartment but I'm now thinking a house might be a better bet.

5) in safe hands
Meaning- If someone or something is in safe hands they are being looked after by someone who will make sure they are not harmed or damaged.
Example- They could get on with their own lives, knowing their girls were in safe hands.
Example- Although  I knew the children would be in good hands, I still felt anxious.

6) play it safe
Meaning- If you play safe or play it safe,  you do not take any risks.
Example- If you want to play safe, cut down on the amount of salt you eat.
Example- The pilot decided that Christchurch was too far away and played it safe, landing at Wellington.

7) be playing with fire
Meaning- If you are playing with fire you are doing something that  has big risks and is likely to cause problems.
Example- In this economic climate,  union leaders who are thinking about strikes are playing with fire.

8) put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning- If you put all your eggs in one basket you put all your efforts or resources into one course of action and will not be able to do anything else if this fails.
Example- You could argue this is a risky strategy, putting all your eggs in one basket;  if the firm goes bust you lose your job and your savings and everything.

9) be skating on thin ice
Meaning- If someone is skating on thin ice they are doing something which could have unpleasant consequences for them.
Example- He told me I was skating on thin ice and should change my attitude.

10) stick your neck out
Meaning- If you stick your neck out,  you say something which other people are afraid to say, even though this may cause trouble for you.
Example- At the risk of sticking my neck out,  I doubt whether the attempt will be successful.

11) take your life in your hands or take your life into your hands
Meaning- If you take your life in your hands or take your life into your hands when you do something,  you take a  lot of risk when you do it.
Example- A rider who does not know the road takes his life in his hands by cycling in the dark. You take your life into your hands just crossing the road in this city.

12) to be on the safe side
Meaning- If you do something to be on the safe side you do it to protect yourself from  harm or trouble,  although   it is unlikely  to be necessary.
Example- I didn't  think it was serious but I took her to the doctor's just to be on the safe side.


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