risk life and limb

English

Alternative forms

• risk one's life and limb (rare)

Verb

risk life and limb (third-person singular simple present risks life and limb, present participle risking life and limb, simple past and past participle risked life and limb)

1. To do something dangerous that will risk someone's existence together with his or her body faculties (used to emphasize and often overstate the danger associated with an action).

   Synonyms: risk one's neck, risk one's life

   • 2012, Gary Allan Tisor, The Untold Story, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 138:

     This eviction should never ever have happened, especially when one of the breadwinners is risking life and limb, defending this same country.

   • 2012, Cindy Champnella, The 12 Gifts of Life: Finding Extraordinary Meaning in Ordinary Moments, Ambassador International, →ISBN, page 54:

     She shrieked so excitedly when she spotted a balloon on the loose that several rows of fans made valiant efforts, risking life and limb, to catch it so they could have the honor of presenting it to her.

   • 2014, Beth Kendrick, Cure for the Common Breakup, Penguin, →ISBN, page 194:

     He cleared his throat. “You're risking life and limb in a car with a new driver and an engine making, quote, 'scraping noises.' It's not fine.” “She is not risking life and limb.” Ingrid put her hands on her hips. “I'm a very safe driver.”

Further reading

• “risk life and limb”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “risk life and limb”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “risk sacrifice life and limb” (US) / “risk sacrifice life and limb” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.