go out on a limb

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

go out on a limb (third-person singular simple present goes out on a limb, present participle going out on a limb, simple past went out on a limb, past participle gone out on a limb)

  1. (idiomatic) To take a risk.
    He doesn't want to go out on a limb, but he really should give it a try.
    • 1985 February 9, Sally Jordan, “Consenting Adult (review)”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 29, page 15:
      Consenting Adult is probably worth watching, if only because it's not every day a TV movie is made about gay people. But don't expect too much. As long as groups like the Moral Majority have power, I doubt TV will be going out on much of a limb for us.
  2. (idiomatic) To hazard a guess.
    I’m going to go out on a limb here. You’re together?
    • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Just go for it:
      We all see the way you stare at Kessia. From the way you two talk, it sounds like you knew each other on Kadara. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you came here for her.

Translations

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