live dangerously

Idioms

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]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Having always lived by the rules, she wants to live dangerously.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2024

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

From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2021

And for those who prefer to live dangerously, Uber has a new feature to make spontaneous curbside pickups less hectic.

From The Verge • Oct. 6, 2021

We have not had to live dangerously enough.

From The Pentecost of Calamity by Wister, Owen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023