for fear of

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.

Example Sentences

Schools in at least nine of Nigeria's 36 states are either fully or partially closed for fear of further abductions.

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When a promotion is at stake, a professor is often inclined to soften his marks for fear of a bad write-up.

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She spoke anonymously for fear of retaliation.

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This was “a nightmare scenario,” said a firefighter with the park, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

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School representatives said parents often withhold information about being homeless "for fear of losing their children" or because they feel "shame".

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