tempt fate
Court potential trouble
To tempt fate is to act recklessly or overconfidently in a way that invites disaster—as if daring the universe to prove you wrong.
Someone who brags about never getting sick or drives without a seatbelt is tempting fate.
I know I should back up my files, but I keep tempting fate.
The phrase reflects a superstitious sense that fortune punishes hubris.
Ruinous excessive confidence
- defyResist or challenge openly
- tauntInsulting provocation
- brazenShamelessly bold
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
presumption · provoke · challenge · insolence · impertinence · boldness · irreverent · flirt
Stake on uncertain outcome
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
- rashnessImprudent haste in action
jeopardize · imprudent · perilous · hazard · precarious · tightrope · thrill-seeking · daredevil
Curse bringing misfortune
- curseInvoked harm through words
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- omenProphetic indicator
- luckChance affecting outcomes
fortune · taboo · unlucky · hex · conjure · superstitious · portent · foreboding
Preordained future outcome
- doomUnavoidable grim fate
- predestinationDivinely predetermined fate
- inevitableCertain to occur
- foreordainedDecided in advance unavoidably
destined · prophecy · oracle · lot · predetermined · cosmic · nemesis · inescapable
hubris
Ruinous excessive confidence
audacity · presumption · provoke · challenge · insolence · impertinence · boldness · irreverent · flirt · tease
gamble
Stake on uncertain outcome
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
rashness · jeopardize · imprudent · perilous · hazard · precarious · tightrope · thrill-seeking · daredevil · roulette
jinx
Curse bringing misfortune
luck · fortune · taboo · unlucky · hex · conjure · superstitious · portent · foreboding · providence
kismet
Preordained future outcome
- doomUnavoidable grim fate
- predestinationDivinely predetermined fate
- inevitableCertain to occur
foreordained · destined · prophecy · oracle · lot · predetermined · cosmic · nemesis · inescapable · sealed
- fatedestiny, kismet, Moira, Norns, doom
- luckgood luck, bad luck, lucky, luckily, pure luck
- risk phrasestake a chance, take a gamble, risk it all, go for broke, roll the dice
tempt fateplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
err on the side of caution · hedge one's bets · leave nothing to chance · cover one's bases · better safe than sorry
tempt fateleave well enough alone
Avoid unnecessary interference
resign oneself · quit while ahead · let sleeping dogs lie · know one's place · count one's blessings
fate, fatal, tempt, tempting, fated, temptation, tempted, fateful, fates