for fear of

Idioms  

1. Also, for fear that. In order to avoid or prevent, in case of. For example, They closed all the windows for fear of rain. The variant is always used before a clause, as in She wouldn't let her children climb trees for fear that they would fall. The first term dates from the late 1400s, the second from about 1600.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

for fear of

If absence is routinely questioned or viewed negatively, workers can become reluctant to take legitimate time off for fear of being judged.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

Young people are "more inquisitive" and ask more questions than their elders, who Miller said sometimes hesitate to challenge him for fear of causing offense.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Nor do you want to alienate anyone for fear of it somehow affecting your child.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

When it comes to your actual budget, that figure is probably a lot lower, because people tend to be conservative with their spending for fear of running out of money.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Not for fear of heights but for where he ranks in the group, when he is even allowed to be a part of it.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern