living dangerously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "living dangerously" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who is engaging in risky or reckless behavior. Example: "He enjoys living dangerously by taking risks that others would avoid." Alternative expressions include "taking risks" and "playing with fire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Politics

Arts & Entertainment

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Living dangerously.

The Guardian - Books

"The Year of Living Dangerously".

The New York Times

Still living dangerously, then?

The Guardian - Film

Now, that's living dangerously.

The Guardian - Music

Murray is living dangerously.

The Guardian - Sport

But the Devils are living dangerously.

The New York Times

Portugal are living dangerously here.

The Guardian - Sport

2.37pm: Leicester are living dangerously.

The Guardian - Sport

Hence the track Living Dangerously.

The Guardian - Travel

8.36pm BST Swansea are living dangerously.

The Guardian - Sport

USA living dangerously on these moves.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to describe a subject who is operating in a state of precariousness, whether intentionally or through neglect. It is highly effective in sports journalism and political commentary to signal that a person or team is barely avoiding failure.

Common error

Avoid using this phrase when the subject has no agency in their peril. "Living dangerously" implies an ongoing activity or lifestyle choice involving risk, whereas "being in danger" is a passive state caused by external threats.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "living dangerously" primarily functions as an adverbial adjunct or a predicative complement. It consists of the present participle "living" modified by the adverb "dangerously". In the sentences provided by Ludwig, it frequently follows the verb "to be", characterizing the ongoing state or method of the subject's actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

20%

Politics

10%

Less common in

Arts & Entertainment

3%

Academic

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "living dangerously" is a powerful linguistic tool used to describe high-stakes behavior and precarious situations. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently encountered in high-quality journalism, particularly when describing sports, politics or finance. Ludwig AI identifies it as a grammatically correct and highly common expression that successfully bridges the gap between literal risk and metaphorical instability. Whether used to describe a goalkeeper's risky play or a government's fiscal policy, the phrase effectively communicates a sense of impending consequence and daring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

living on the edge

Stronger focus on existing at the limit of safety or social norms.

playing with fire

Emphasizes the likelihood of getting hurt or facing negative consequences.

skating on thin ice

Focuses on the precariousness of a specific, immediate situation.

taking risks

More literal and less idiomatic description of the behavior.

tempting fate

Suggests that the risk-taker is daring a higher power or luck to turn against them.

courting danger

Implies an active invitation or attraction toward hazardous situations.

treading on dangerous ground

Used when the risk is metaphorical, often regarding sensitive topics or behavior.

running a risk

A more formal way to describe engaging in an uncertain action.

taking chances

A slightly more informal and less threatening alternative.

gambling with life

Highly dramatic and implies extreme or fatal consequences.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "living dangerously"?

It refers to engaging in activities or behaviors that involve high risk or uncertainty. It can be used literally, like in extreme sports, or figuratively, as seen in "The Year of Living Dangerously", to describe precarious political or personal situations.

How do I use "living dangerously" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a subject's behavior, such as "The team is "living dangerously" by playing with such a high defensive line" or "By not backing up his files, he is certainly "living dangerously"".

What is a synonym for "living dangerously"?

Depending on your context, you can use "living on the edge", "playing with fire" or more simply "taking risks".

Is "living dangerously" formal or informal?

The phrase is neutral and widely used in both news and literature. While it is acceptable in business contexts to describe high-stakes strategies, it might be too idiomatic for technical or scientific reports where "operating under high risk" would be preferred.