build on sand
Foundation will fail
To build on sand is to establish something on an unstable or unreliable foundation, guaranteeing eventual collapse.
The phrase comes from a biblical parable contrasting a house built on rock with one built on sand.
Their business model was built on sand—one regulation change and the whole thing crumbled.
- make bricks without strawAttempt task without necessities
- sandcastleBeach structure from sediment
- castles in the airFanciful, impractical schemes
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- failureLack of success
downfall · doomed to fail · fragility · house of cards · unsoundness · precariousness · erosion · vulnerability · collapse · unpredictability · ruin · parable · insecurity · gamble · volatility · hazard · overconfidence · danger
build on sandhedge one's bets
Reduce risk by diversifying
leave nothing to chance · think ahead · lay the groundwork · cover all bases · play it safe
build, sand, builds, built, building, builder, builders, buildings, sands