dancing with the devil
Courting grave peril
Dancing with the devil means engaging in risky, dangerous, or morally questionable behavior—flirting with forces that could destroy you.
The phrase suggests knowing the danger but proceeding anyway: He knew taking money from loan sharks was dancing with the devil.
It implies temptation, recklessness, or willful blindness to consequences.
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
- risky businessVenture with uncertain outcome
- Faustian bargainRuinous exchange for power
selling your soul · peril · corruption · seduction · temptation · cautionary tale · forbidden fruit · brinkmanship · daredevilry · betrayal · folklore · moral ambiguity · slippery slope · recklessness · archetype · vice · jeopardy · hazard
dancing with the devilplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
erring on the side of caution · hedging one's bets · staying in one's lane · risk-averse · prudent
dancing with the devilon the side of the angels
Aligned with moral right
guardian angel · heavenly · saintly · virtuous living · angelic
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