accident waiting to happen en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Attested 1930s.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) A thing or situation which is almost certain to eventually lead to an accident.
Someone needs to repair that worn-out old bridge. It's an accident waiting to happen!
Maguire looked totally devoid of confidence, a lost soul and an accident waiting to happen, which it eventually did.
2020 October 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-1 Denmark: 'Harry Maguire looked devoid of confidence in Nations League loss'”, in BBC Sport:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| accidents waiting to happen | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
disaster waiting to happen · waiting to happen
Relateds
trainwreck in slow motion · time bomb · -in-waiting · court disaster
Translations (1)
fi onnettomuus, joka odottaa tapahtumistaan (dangerous situation)