be a danger to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a danger to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing potential threats or risks posed by someone or something to a person, group, or situation. Example: "The chemicals in the factory can be a danger to the local wildlife." Alternative expressions include "pose a threat to" and "represent a risk to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He'll be a danger to witnesses.

Independent

Baseball always seems to be a danger to itself.

The Washington Post

Dogs Animals can be a danger to themselves and others.

The Guardian - Books

Esophageal foreign bodies can be a danger to a patient's life.

American Journal of Otolaryngology

If that happens, the scientist said, there could be a danger to ships.

Independent

My fear is that I've raised a monster who will be a danger to women.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It would be a danger to try to go out to keep a clean sheet.

The Guardian - Sport

But it's an issue he understands could be a danger to his administration".

The New York Times

However, rapid evolution can also be a danger to our health and a stumbling block for biotechnology.

Trends in Genetics

Free to mount his nuclear bombs on his ever-farther-flying missiles, Mr Kim would be a danger to all.

The Economist

It was only then the woman realized that this could be a danger to her child, Dr. Judith Palfrey said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with auxiliary verbs like "could", "may" or "might" to express uncertainty or potentiality in scientific and legal reporting.

Common error

Avoid using "be a danger to" when you mean the subject is the one facing the threat. Use "be in danger of" instead. For example, say "The species is in danger of extinction", not "The species is a danger to extinction", unless the species is the cause of the hazard.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a danger to" functions as a copular construction where the subject is linked to a noun phrase acting as a subject complement. This structure is used to attribute the specific quality of being a hazard to a person, object or situation. According to Ludwig AI, this is a standard and grammatically correct way to describe risk factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "be a danger to" is a fundamental and highly frequent phrase in English, particularly within high-stakes contexts such as news reporting, legal assessments and scientific warnings. Verified as correct by Ludwig AI, it provides a precise way to link a subject to a potential hazard. Its prevalence in top-tier sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and formal acceptance. Whether used to describe environmental threats or individual safety risks, the phrase remains a clear and authoritative choice. Writers should distinguish it from passive vulnerability phrases like "be in danger of" to maintain semantic precision. Overall, it is an essential construction for anyone needing to articulate risk or hazard with clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pose a threat to

More formal and often used in security, political or environmental contexts.

represent a risk to

Shifts the focus to analytical or administrative risk assessment.

endanger

A more concise and direct verb form that conveys immediate action.

be a hazard to

Commonly used in technical, occupational or environmental safety contexts.

put at risk

Focuses on the vulnerability of the object being threatened.

threaten

A strong verb that implies a more active or impending harm.

imperil

Highly formal and literary version of endangering something.

jeopardize

Often used when the outcome or safety of a situation is being compromised.

be harmful to

Focuses on the detrimental effects rather than the potential for danger.

constitute a peril to

Very formal and slightly archaic, used in high-level legal or diplomatic texts.

FAQs

How to use "be a danger to" in a sentence?

You can use "be a danger to" to identify a threat, such as in the sentence "Unvaccinated people could "be a danger to" the general population."

What can I say instead of "be a danger to"?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like "pose a threat to", "endanger" or "be a hazard to".

Which is correct, "be a danger to" or "be a danger for"?

"be a danger to" is the standard idiomatic expression in English. While "be a danger for" is occasionally seen, it is far less common and usually sounds less natural to native speakers.

What is the difference between "be a danger to" and "be harmful to"?

While "be harmful to" suggests causing general damage, "be a danger to" typically implies a more severe, immediate or existential threat to safety.