skate on thin ice — to be in a risky or dangerous situation where a small mistake could lead to serious trouble
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to be in a risky or dangerous situation where a small mistake could lead to serious trouble
Pronunciation (IPA): /skeɪt ɒn θɪn aɪs/
Example Sentences
- My cat is skating on thin ice after knocking over my coffee for the third time today.
- After missing three deadlines, he knew he was skating on thin ice at work.
- Eating my roommate's leftover pizza again? You're really skating on thin ice, buddy.
skate on thin ice
VERB[/skeɪt ɒn θɪn aɪs/]
to be in a risky or dangerous situation where a small mistake could lead to serious trouble
He's about to skate on thin ice by lying to his boss again.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Literally derived from the dangerous act of skating on ice that is not thick enough to safely support weight.
Breakdown
skate (to glide) + on (preposition) + thin (not thick) + ice (frozen water)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat is skating on thin ice after knocking over my coffee for the third time today.”
“After missing three deadlines, he knew he was skating on thin ice at work.”
“Eating my roommate's leftover pizza again? You're really skating on thin ice, buddy.”
“The company is skating on thin ice financially and might not survive another quarter.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.