tempting fate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tempting fate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action that someone takes that could lead to a bad outcome or result. For example, you could say, "By driving that rough stretch of road with no working headlights after dark, he was tempting fate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But the way she's sitting isn't described as tempting fate, any more than going for a swim in a river was necessarily tempting fate.

The New Yorker

Stop tempting fate!

The Guardian

He was tempting fate.

The Guardian

Maybe they're tempting fate.

The Guardian - Music

His decision to castle was tempting fate.

The New York Times

It's almost like tempting fate.

The New York Times - Sports

For now I'm tempting fate.

The Guardian - Sport

At what point is he tempting fate?

The New York Times

Along the way, they've been tempting fate.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Besides, predicting enormous growth can be like tempting fate.

Forbes

In fiction, the problem can be tempting fate.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve the phrase for situations where there is a sense that the subject is 'asking for' a bad outcome through their overconfidence.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase to describe a carefully planned, professional risk. "Tempting fate" implies a lack of caution or an emotional/superstitious recklessness, not a strategic business decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tempting fate" typically functions as a verb phrase (often in the present continuous) or a gerund phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe an action that is unnecessarily risky or overconfident, as if inviting a negative destiny. It frequently appears as a predicate following the verb "to be" or as the object of a preposition.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tempting fate" is a robust and highly frequent idiom in English, used to denote behavior that is unnecessarily risky or characterized by overconfidence. As shown by Ludwig AI, the phrase is most prevalent in news and media contexts, where it highlights the potential for failure in high-stakes situations. It is grammatically versatile, functioning well as a gerund or participial phrase. While it has roots in ancient concepts of destiny, its modern usage is neutral and widely applicable. Writers should use it to emphasize a subject's lack of humility or caution, distinguishing it from synonyms like "courting disaster" which focus more on the outcome than the psychological state of the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

courting disaster

Uses a romantic metaphor to suggest someone is actively seeking a catastrophic result.

pushing one's luck

More informal and specifically relates to overextending a period of good fortune.

playing with fire

Focuses on the inherent danger of a situation rather than the metaphysical concept of fate.

testing providence

A more formal or religious variation of challenging the natural order of events.

inviting trouble

Simplifies the concept by removing the mythological weight of fate.

risking it all

Emphasizes the scale of the potential loss rather than the recklessness of the act.

flying too close to the sun

A literary allusion to Icarus that implies hubris and inevitable downfall.

living on the edge

Suggests a lifestyle of risk rather than a specific moment of reckless overconfidence.

challenging fortune

Focuses on the luck aspect rather than the deterministic concept of destiny.

defying the odds

Often used positively to describe overcoming low probability, whereas tempting fate is usually negative.

FAQs

How to use "tempting fate" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a reckless action, such as: "Walking through that neighborhood alone at midnight is simply tempting fate."

What can I say instead of "tempting fate"?

Depending on your context, you might use phrases like "courting disaster", "pushing one's luck" or "playing with fire".

Is "tempting fate" always negative?

Yes, it almost always carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the person is being unwise or arrogant in the face of potential danger.

What's the difference between "tempting fate" and "pushing your luck"?

While "pushing your luck" suggests trying to get even more benefit after already being lucky, "tempting fate" implies a broader defiance of safety or destiny that could lead to a sudden downfall.