playing with fire
Inviting serious trouble
Playing with fire is taking reckless risks, especially ones likely to result in serious harm: You're playing with fire if you keep lying to her.
The metaphor captures how dangerous behavior, like handling flames carelessly, may seem manageable until it suddenly isn't.
Often used as a warning.
Recklessly bold
- imprudentLacking careful forethought
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- heedlessCareless of consequences
careless · impulsive · thoughtless · negligent · brash · incautious · unwise · injudicious
Source of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- burnsHeat-caused tissue damage
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
- scarsHealed wound tissue
inferno · blaze · combustible · ignite · scorch · flammable · firetrap · conflagration
Stake on uncertain outcome
- ventureRisky new undertaking
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- daringAdventurous courage
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
boldness · brinkmanship · high-stakes · calculated risk · long shot · roll the dice · all-in · double down
Emergency response hormone
- exhilarationIntense joyful excitement
- rushQuick sudden movement
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- buzzContinuous low drone
intensity · edge · high · electrifying · pulse-pounding · living on the edge · flirtation · seduction
foolhardy
Recklessly bold
- imprudentLacking careful forethought
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
heedless · careless · impulsive · thoughtless · negligent · brash · incautious · unwise · injudicious · overconfident
hazard
Source of potential harm
scars · inferno · blaze · combustible · ignite · scorch · flammable · firetrap · conflagration · emergency
gamble
Stake on uncertain outcome
- ventureRisky new undertaking
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- daringAdventurous courage
audacity · boldness · brinkmanship · high-stakes · calculated risk · long shot · roll the dice · all-in · double down · bet
adrenaline
Emergency response hormone
- exhilarationIntense joyful excitement
- rushQuick sudden movement
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
buzz · intensity · edge · high · electrifying · pulse-pounding · living on the edge · flirtation · seduction · forbidden
aftermath
Results following an event
- repercussionsIndirect results of actions
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- backlashStrong negative reaction
penalty · liability · trauma · loss · ruin · catastrophe · damage · regret · price · lesson
caution
Careful attention to risk
- red flagIndicator of danger
- omenProphetic indicator
- forewarningNotice of future trouble
advisory · heads-up · beware · watch out · heed · prudence · vigilance · premonition · portent · alarm bells
- reckless behaviorreckless driving, reckless endangerment, reckless abandon, dangerous driving, thrill seeking
- Risk-Takingrolling the dice, taking chances, living on the edge, going for broke, high stakes
- risky behaviorreckless driving, drunk driving, speeding, drug abuse, binge drinking
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- Precariousnessprecarious, unstable, teetering, tottering, wobbly
- recklessnessrecklessness, carelessness, negligence, impulsiveness, rashness
playing with fireplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
erring on the side of caution · hedging one's bets · staying in one's lane · risk aversion · keeping one's head down
playing with firewalking on eggshells
Acting with extreme caution
due diligence · safety first · discretion · better safe than sorry
play, fire, player, playful, fired, playing, played, fires, fireplace