disasters waiting to happen
Accidents in progress
Disasters waiting to happen describes situations, systems, or people that seem destined for catastrophic failure.
The phrase implies visible warning signs that others ignore: That rickety bridge is a disaster waiting to happen.
Applied to people, it suggests someone whose reckless behavior or instability will inevitably cause serious problems: He hired his nephew, who was a disaster waiting to happen.
- nuclear meltdownsUncontrolled reactor core overheating
- ticking time bombLooming inevitable disaster
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- perfect stormRare convergence of worsening factors
- recklessnessCareless disregard for danger
cutting corners · complacency · ignored warnings · bureaucratic inertia · denialism · house of cards · corruption · overconfidence · accident prone · oil spills · train wreck · deforestation · wildfires · mining accidents · bridge collapse · dam failure · mismanagement · droughts
disasters waiting to happensafe bets
Likely winning wagers
sure things · fail-safes · safety nets · safe havens · controlled environments
disasters waiting to happenwell-oiled machines
Systems functioning without friction
disasters waiting to happenrising stars
Emerging promising talents
smooth sailing · happy endings · best-case scenarios · strokes of luck
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