courting disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

"courting disaster" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing actions or decisions that are likely to lead to negative consequences. For example, "By ignoring the safety protocols, the team was courting disaster." Alternative expressions include "inviting trouble" and "tempting fate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Murray was the only one courting disaster.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm not hoping for an accident or even courting disaster," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

They've been given the high sign, and we are courting disaster.

The New Yorker

What is clear is that we are courting disaster as a result.

The Guardian

"We're really courting disaster, I think, on those reservation communities," Mr. Christensen said.

The New York Times

For the Keystone XL project to go ahead under these circumstances looks to be courting disaster.

The Guardian - Opinion

Critics may say that giving the Afghans all that money is courting disaster.

The New York Times

It had been warned that the country's financial casinos were courting disaster.

The New York Times

Mr. Bloomberg called the profiling bill "a dangerous piece of legislation, and anyone who supports it is courting disaster".

The New York Times

It was never clear which would prevail — her habit of courting disaster or her talent for narrow escapes.

The New York Times

If we don't take care of ourselves now and prepare for that possible upheaval, we're courting disaster".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase works best in analytical writing, such as political commentary or business risk assessments, to provide a strong editorial judgment.

Common error

Do not use the phrase if there is no element of human agency or decision-making involved. For example, a natural earthquake is a disaster, but the earth is not 'courting' it; however, a city building on a fault line without safety codes is indeed "courting disaster".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "courting disaster" functions as a verb phrase, typically appearing in the present participle form as a gerund or as part of a continuous tense. In Ludwig's database, it is often used to characterize a pattern of behavior that ignores standard safety or logical protocols. It acts as a vivid metaphorical descriptor for reckless negligence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

4%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0.5%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "courting disaster" is a powerful and sophisticated English idiom used to describe actions that are bound to lead to a catastrophic end. According to Ludwig AI and the analyzed search data, the phrase is a favorite among journalists and analysts at top-tier publications to describe everything from economic policies to sports strategies. It carries a heavy weight of judgment, suggesting that the risks being taken are not just high, but foolish. Whether you are writing a business report or an opinion piece, using "courting disaster" provides a clear, authoritative signal of impending failure due to negligence or arrogance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

courting calamity

Utilizes alliteration for a more dramatic and slightly more formal tone.

inviting trouble

A more common, everyday alternative that conveys a similar sense of inevitability.

flirting with danger

Suggests a level of playfulness or intentional risk-taking that is less present in the main query.

tempting fate

Adds a superstitious or existential layer to the risk being taken.

playing with fire

A classic idiom emphasizing that the consequences will be painful and direct.

skating on thin ice

Focuses on the precariousness and immediate instability of the current situation.

risking catastrophe

A more literal and formal way to describe the potential for total failure.

heading for a fall

Focuses more on the inevitable downward result than the current action of attracting it.

asking for it

A very informal and often critical way to say that someone's behavior deserves the bad outcome.

sowing the seeds of ruin

A metaphorical variation implying that current actions are planting the potential for future failure.

FAQs

How to use "courting disaster" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a risky strategy, such as: "By ignoring the warnings from the engineers, the company was "courting disaster" with the new project."

What can I say instead of "courting disaster"?

Depending on the tone you want, you could use "inviting trouble" for general situations, "tempting fate" for a more dramatic flair, or "risking catastrophe" for formal reports.

Is "courting disaster" a formal expression?

Yes, it is considered a neutral to formal idiom. It is frequently seen in high-level journalism and academic journals like "ScienceDirect" to describe systemic risks.

What is the difference between "courting disaster" and "flirting with danger"?

While both describe risk, "flirting with danger" often implies a level of thrill-seeking or intentional proximity to risk, whereas "courting disaster" implies a more serious, systemic path toward a total failure.