live dangerously

Idioms  

1. Take numerous risks, be daring, as in Bill never knows if he'll have enough money to pay the next month's rent—he likes to live dangerously. This expression figured in the work of such 19th-century German writers as Nietzsche, who regarded it as an admirable course of action. Today it is often used with mildly humorous effect, as in the example. [c. 1900]

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Example Sentences

Wales continued to live dangerously in defence as the hosts looked threatening, but Lleucu George and Metcalfe combined well to save what looked a certain try.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025

I’m going to play it safe by picking Chastain, but feel free to live dangerously in your own Oscar pool.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2022

The Cardinals continue to live dangerously on offense with ill-timed fumbles and some tough third-down penalties.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2021

What Andy provided most was the springboard and encouragement to live dangerously outside the margins.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2021

There is no need to try to live dangerously, and no sense in going about tweaking the nose of death to show what a deuce of a fellow you are.

From Leaves in the Wind by Gardiner, A. G. (Alfred George)