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.

Many communities live dangerously close to the volcanoes in order to cultivate the fertile soil they provide.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2024

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

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2024

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

"Suit yourself ... if you like to live dangerously."

From Master of the Moondog by Mullen, Stanley

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