walk on the wild side
Embrace dangerous experiences
To walk on the wild side is to experience something dangerous, unconventional, or transgressive—often involving sex, drugs, or other taboo pleasures.
The phrase suggests stepping outside respectable society to sample its forbidden edges: After years of playing it safe, she decided to take a walk on the wild side.
Popularized by Lou Reed's 1972 song about New York's underground scene.
- take a walk on the wild sideSeek thrilling unconventional experiences
- risk-takingAccepting possible harm
- walk the lineMaintain careful balance between
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
living on the edge · riskiness · daring · rebellion · breaking the rules · boldness · Lou Reed · Beat Generation · counter culture · experimentation · bohemian · subversion · street life · outsider · wild child · drag queens · underground · nonconformity
walk on the wild sideplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
err on the side of caution · hedge one's bets · keep one's nose clean · tread carefully · risk-averse
walk on the wild sidetoe the line
Adhere to standards
follow the rules · color inside the lines · conform · keep up appearances · keep one's nose clean
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