🗓️ Idiom: Go Out on a Limb (v)
💬 Meaning
- To take a risk by doing or saying something that others might not agree with.
- It means making a bold decision or expressing a risky opinion.
🧠 Example Sentences
- She went out on a limb by recommending a new supplier with no track record.
- I’m going out on a limb here, but I think we should delay the launch.
- He went out on a limb to defend his team’s unpopular proposal.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from the image of climbing out onto a tree limb. The further you go, the more likely it is to break. In business, it means taking a risk that could backfire.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
The manager __________ by supporting a very new idea in front of the board.
Answer
went out on a limb
2. Choose the correct meaning of “go out on a limb”:
A) To follow standard procedures
B) To support an idea without risk
C) To take a risky or bold position
D) To avoid making decisions
Answer
C) To take a risky or bold position
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“He took a risk by suggesting a new direction.” → Change the sentence using: go out on a limb
Answer
He went out on a limb by suggesting a new direction.