accident waiting to happen
Obvious future catastrophe
An accident waiting to happen is a situation, object, or person so obviously risky that disaster seems inevitable: That rickety ladder is an accident waiting to happen.
The phrase emphasizes preventability—someone should have seen the danger coming.
It often carries implicit criticism of negligence: With no safety training, the whole operation was an accident waiting to happen.
- time bombExplosive on a timer
- trainwreck in slow motionForeseeable catastrophe gradually occurring
- train wreckUtter chaotic disaster
- alarm-bellWarning signal device
- perilousFraught with danger
unsafe · hazardous · risky · cut corners · overlooked · foreshadowing · warning signs · crash · inevitability · dangerous · red flags · house of cards · harbinger · recipe for disaster · playing with fire · skating on thin ice · precarious · borrowed time
accident waiting to happensafe bet
Likely winning wager
safe as houses · rock solid · foolproof · fail-safe · ironclad
accident waiting to happensure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
slam dunk · foregone conclusion · safe bet · money in the bank
accident waiting to happenwell-oiled machine
Flawlessly coordinated working system
built to last · solid foundation · structurally sound · shipshape · battle-tested
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