green peril
- noun
- International cooperation is needed to tackle the green peril posed by invasive species in sensitive habitats.
Examples
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The green peril of invasive species is alarming.
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The green peril caused by invasive plants is devastating local agriculture.
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International cooperation is needed to tackle the green peril in sensitive habitats.
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Many conservationists warn about the green peril threatening native fauna.
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We must address the green peril affecting our forests.
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Many conservationists warn about the green peril threatening native fauna in ecosystems across the globe.
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The green peril of environmental degradation endangers biodiversity and disrupts local ecosystems.
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents contribute transparently: 'green' (relating to ecology/environmental protection) + 'peril' (danger) yields an interpretable meaning of an environmental threat. This compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically accessible, so a B1 learner who knows the component words can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Green peril uses green to stand for nature and peril to mean danger, giving a simple picture of the natural world as a threatening force. Imagine a wave of invasive plants, pests or pollution spreading and hurting wildlife — that image explains why it now means 'the threat to nature and biodiversity'.