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to throw caution to the wind

to throw caution to the wind

7 7.3
Do something without worrying about the risks
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : tirar la precaución al viento
  • After carefully considering her options, she decided to throw caution to the wind and finally go skydiving.
  • decided to throw caution to the wind
  • just throw caution to the wind
  • willing to throw caution to the wind

Interestingly, I know that most folks would not throw caution to the wind and you wouldn't become a big fearless rebel.

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Examples

  • However, we threw caution to the wind because it was better than the awful state of indecision I was in.

    Blog text (28)
  • Condit's best option is to throw caution to the wind and unload everything he's got with furious aggression.

    Blog text (24)
  • Jump up and down, throw caution to the wind and break into a smile.

  • And so each in their own way, they resolved to throw caution to the wind and do something quite different this time around.

  • I'm throwing caution to the wind.

  • I didn't expect you to throw caution to the wind quite so fast.

  • Knowing full well that what Hresah and I said would make its way to the contact team, I decided to throw caution to the wind.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Today, I am going to throw caution to the wind and lead with a super-awesome excerpt.

    Blog text (25)
  • I'm one to live, and I think by doing this, throwing caution to the wind and being bold, I'm living life more than I ever have.

    Blog text (31)
  • Throwing caution to the wind, she embarks on a passionate extramarital affair.

    Blog text (9)

Synonyms

to take risks
vsto throw caution to the wind
56 3.2

Do things that might be dangerous to get something important

is done without worry about risks rather than for reward
to tempt fate
vsto throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
9 7.3

Take an unnecessary risk that might cause bad luck

is acting without worry about risks rather than tempting bad luck
headlong into
vsto throw caution to the wind
7 7.2

Acting quickly without thinking about the risks

shows lack of worry about risks rather than eagerness
to run a risk
vsto throw caution to the wind
2 3.0

To do something that might lead to harm or loss

is done without worry about risks rather than as a careful choice
to take a flyer
vsto throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
1 8.5

To try something risky when the result is not certain

is more about ignoring risk for its own sake rather than chance taking
to leap into the unknown
vsto throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
1 7.3

To do something risky without knowing what will happen

is about ignoring risk rather than facing unknown outcomes
to run with scissors
vsto throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
8.5

To act in a risky way without thinking about the bad results

is about not caring about risks rather than focusing on physical danger
to throw one's cap over the windmill
vsto throw caution to the wind
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a big decision you cannot change that may be risky

is about acting without worry rather than making an irreversible commitment

Antonyms

210 2.9

Careful to avoid risk or mistakes

Choose a careful option to avoid risks

How Reckless

to throw caution to the wind
  • Informal
7 7.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

throw + caution + to + the + wind

A learner who knows 'throw' (discard), 'caution' (carefulness) and 'wind' (here used metaphorically) can largely infer that the phrase means to discard carefulness or act despite risks; 'throw caution' clearly signals letting go of caution while 'to the wind' conveys abandonment. However, the expression is a conventionalized metaphor and the prepositional phrase is idiomatic rather than strictly compositional, so the meaning is not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

The idiom throw caution to the wind gives a clear picture of someone taking their caution, their care, and throwing it into the wind so it blows away. That's why it means 'to act without worrying about the risks'.