serious danger
13
2.8
- noun
- I think that our politicians are so corrupt that we are in serious danger of losing our democracy.
- pose a serious danger
Examples
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Why would you want your man to put himself in what could be serious danger over some words?
Blog text (12) -
The hikers realized they were in serious danger when the storm began to howl ominously.
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We're all in serious danger.
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We're in some serious danger.
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Now, you, the president, and anyone connected to you could be in serious danger.
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Now, I have every reason in the world to believe that my life is in serious, serious danger.
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Captain, the Enterprise is in serious danger.
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Did it occur to you that this poor woman was likely in serious danger?
Blog text (27) -
Your nephew is in serious danger.
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If he shows up now, he's in serious danger.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A chance that people or things will be harmed
∞
2.3
Something likely to cause harm or danger
174
3.4
Something that can cause harm or danger
129
4.6
A very serious situation where someone may not survive
103
5.7
A serious danger that can cause harm or loss
48
2.9
A time when people could be hurt or killed
15
3.8
An area or situation where people are likely to be hurt
Antonyms
How Dangerous
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a significant risk or threat' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'serious' (threatening harm) with 'danger' (chance of harm). This adjective + noun composition is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
Serious danger combines serious, meaning important or heavy, and danger, a threat, so imagine a heavy rock hanging above you. That image explains why serious danger means a 'big or real risk'.