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

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

He asked for his name to be changed for fear of repercussions.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

County prosecutors who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Until the early 1990s, the police kept a close eye on such funerals for fear of human sacrifices, according to the American anthropologist Janet Hoskins.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Mother was afraid to move for fear of upsetting her perch, and would remain up there primly, determined not to lose her dignity.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey