a precarious venture

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a precarious venture" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a risky or uncertain undertaking, often in a business or personal context. Example: "Investing in a startup can be a precarious venture, as many new businesses fail within their first few years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Little does Erasmus know what a precarious venture he is committing himself to this time.

The New York Times - Books

Sitting in the restaurant close to his office on lower Fifth Avenue (donated, "thank heavens," he said, by the Broadway producers Shorenstein Hays Nederlander), the always articulate and affable Mr. Wheeldon showed some of the strain of running a precarious venture in the spotlight — strains, he said, that he was warned of but that he didn't fully comprehend when he left City Ballet.

The New York Times - Arts

To get a better overall look we scaled the central watchtower, a precarious venture since its old access paths was now overgrown beyond usability.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

To be sure, Intellectual Ventures is sitting in a precarious position for monetizing its large pool of filed and purchased patents see a different set of rules get pushed forward in 2007.

TechCrunch

I could understand it if the festival was for ethnic Tibetan nose flute music or some other worthy-but-financially-precarious-venture, but for big-name comedy?

The Guardian

It is a precarious existence.

The Economist

Life is a precarious balance.

The New York Times

It is a precarious path.

Harvard University

You had a precarious childhood.

The New York Times - Magazine

Fame is a precarious thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They have to maintain a precarious balance.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a precarious venture" when you want to emphasize both the risk and the uncertainty associated with a particular undertaking. It's often fitting when describing new businesses, innovative projects, or situations with potentially high rewards but also high failure rates.

Common error

Avoid using "a precarious venture" if the situation is merely challenging or difficult, but not genuinely risky. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and suggest a higher level of danger or uncertainty than truly exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a precarious venture" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "precarious" modifies the noun "venture". It describes the nature of the venture, indicating it is risky or unstable. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing uncertain undertakings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a precarious venture" describes an undertaking characterized by risk and uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. With limited examples, it's considered a relatively rare expression, predominantly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the situation genuinely involves significant risk rather than a mere challenge. Alternatives such as "a risky undertaking" or "an uncertain enterprise" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis. The phrase serves to highlight potential instability and caution against overstating the level of risk involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a risky undertaking

Replaces "precarious" with "risky", emphasizing the potential for negative outcomes.

an uncertain enterprise

Substitutes "precarious" with "uncertain" and "venture" with "enterprise", highlighting the unpredictable nature of the activity.

a hazardous project

Uses "hazardous" instead of "precarious", focusing on the potential dangers involved.

a delicate operation

Replaces "precarious" with "delicate", suggesting that careful handling is required to succeed.

a chancy endeavor

Uses "chancy" as a substitute for "precarious", emphasizing the element of luck involved.

a dicey proposition

Replaces "precarious venture" with "dicey proposition" suggesting high risk.

an unstable pursuit

Highlights the lack of stability, rather than the inherent risk.

a vulnerable undertaking

Focuses on the susceptibility to negative influences or harm.

a shaky scheme

Implies a lack of solid foundation or reliability.

a fraught situation

Shifts focus from the venture itself to the overall difficult circumstances surrounding it.

FAQs

How can I use "a precarious venture" in a sentence?

You can use "a precarious venture" to describe a project or undertaking that is risky and uncertain. For example, "Starting a restaurant during an economic downturn is "a precarious venture"".

What can I say instead of "a precarious venture"?

You can use alternatives like "a risky undertaking", "an uncertain enterprise", or "a hazardous project" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to describe something as "a precarious venture"?

It's appropriate when the undertaking involves significant risk, potential for failure, and an uncertain outcome. This often applies to new business endeavors, innovative projects, or situations where success is far from guaranteed.

What makes "a precarious venture" different from a simple challenge?

A "precarious venture" implies a high level of risk and uncertainty, whereas a challenge might simply indicate difficulty or the need for extra effort. The former suggests potential for significant negative consequences, while the latter does not necessarily carry the same weight.