tempting fate
Courting inevitable misfortune
Tempting fate is acting in a way that seems to invite bad luck or disaster, especially by being overconfident or by speaking too optimistically about something that could still go wrong.
The phrase suggests that fate is a force that punishes presumption: Saying we'll definitely win before the game is over is tempting fate.
Also *tempting the fates* or *testing fate*.
Curse bringing misfortune
- curseInvoked harm through words
- omenProphetic indicator
- hexMalevolent incantation
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
karma · bad luck · evil eye · fortune · knock on wood · charm · talisman · amulet
Excessive self-importance
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
conceit · vanity · self-importance · smugness · complacency · bravado · boastfulness · haughtiness
Betting on uncertain results
- risk-takingAccepting possible harm
- daredevilReckless risk-taker
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
- carelessInattentive, prone to mistakes
imprudent · heedless · rash · irresponsible · playing with fire · brinkmanship · incautious · thoughtless
Insulting to provoke
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- daringAdventurous courage
- challengingHard to accomplish
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
goading · asking for trouble · provoking · testing limits · mocking · poking the bear
jinx
Curse bringing misfortune
taboo · karma · bad luck · evil eye · fortune · knock on wood · charm · talisman · amulet · prophecy
arrogance
Excessive self-importance
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
- presumptionBelief held without proof
audacity · conceit · vanity · self-importance · smugness · complacency · bravado · boastfulness · haughtiness · egotism
gambling
Betting on uncertain results
- risk-takingAccepting possible harm
- daredevilReckless risk-taker
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
careless · imprudent · heedless · rash · irresponsible · playing with fire · brinkmanship · incautious · thoughtless · impulsive
taunting
Insulting to provoke
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- daringAdventurous courage
- challengingHard to accomplish
baiting · goading · asking for trouble · provoking · testing limits · mocking · poking the bear
- luckgood luck, bad luck, lucky, luckily, pure luck
- Risk-Takingplaying with fire, rolling the dice, taking chances, living on the edge, going for broke
- superstitionblack cat, broken mirror, Friday the 13th, walking under ladder, evil eye
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- fatedestiny, kismet, Moira, fated, Norns
- recklessnessrecklessness, carelessness, negligence, impulsiveness, rashness
tempting fateplaying it safe
Avoiding unnecessary risk
erring on the side of caution · hedging one's bets · risk aversion · playing the odds · staying in one's lane
tempting fatecounting one's blessings
Acknowledging reasons for gratitude
fate, tempt, attempt, tempting, temptation, tempted, attempts, attempted, tempts