on thin ice
Dangerously close to consequences
On thin ice describes a precarious situation where one wrong move could lead to disaster.
The image is of standing on ice too thin to support your weight—you might be fine, but danger lurks.
Usually implies someone has already done something risky or offensive: After missing three deadlines, she's on thin ice with her boss.
To skate on thin ice is to take chances with consequences.
Dangerously insecure
- riskyInvolving possible harm
- perilousFraught with danger
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
unstable · vulnerable · jeopardized · endangered · fragile · shaky · tenuous · dicey
Supervised trial period
- last chanceUltimate remaining opportunity
- final warningLast notice before action
- troubleDifficulty or distress
- hot waterHeated liquid, or trouble
bad books · disfavor · scrutiny · watchlist · reprimand · criticism · displeasure · rebuke
Careful attention to risk
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- watch outWarning to be careful
- tread lightlyAct with delicacy
- bewareExercise vigilant caution
heads up · red flag · warning sign · alarm bells · back off · ease up · think twice · fair warning
precarious
Dangerously insecure
treacherous · unstable · vulnerable · jeopardized · endangered · fragile · shaky · tenuous · dicey · touch-and-go
probation
Supervised trial period
- last chanceUltimate remaining opportunity
- final warningLast notice before action
- troubleDifficulty or distress
hot water · bad books · disfavor · scrutiny · watchlist · reprimand · criticism · displeasure · rebuke · scolding
caution
Careful attention to risk
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- watch outWarning to be careful
- tread lightlyAct with delicacy
beware · heads up · red flag · warning sign · alarm bells · back off · ease up · think twice · fair warning · advisory
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- instabilityinstability, unsteadiness, shakiness, wobbliness, precariousness
- Precariousnessprecarious, unstable, teetering, tottering, wobbly
- Cold Expressionsfreezing cold, bitter cold, bone-chilling, cold snap, cold spell
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
on thin icein good standing
Status of full membership
in favor · golden · sitting pretty · above reproach · trusted
ice, thin, iced, iceberg, icicle, thinning, thinner, thinness, iciness