throw caution to the wind

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“Leah threw caution to the wind and booked the trip before her leave was approved.”

Dictionary details

Component words

throw caution wind

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

get wind of Neutral · CEFR B2

learn about something private or secret, usually through an indirect channel

take the wind out of someone's sails Neutral · CEFR B2

to suddenly weaken a person's confidence, excitement, or determination

throw it at the wall and see what sticks Informal · CEFR B2

to try many ideas quickly, keeping only the ones that work

throw a wobbly Informal · CEFR C1

to have a sudden angry or distressed outburst and lose self-control

throw down the gauntlet Formal · CEFR C1

to challenge an opponent openly and defiantly

slippery slope Neutral · CEFR B1

a course of action that seems small or harmless but leads, step by step, to a serious or disastrous result

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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