unforeseen danger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unforeseen danger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a threat or risk that was not anticipated or expected. Example: "The hikers were caught off guard by the unforeseen danger of a sudden storm in the mountains."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The unforeseen danger in this case was the slyness of the attack.

The New York Times

First, companies must take care not to put customers in "unforeseen" danger, assuming that those customers act in a "reasonable" manner when interacting with the product or service.

Forbes

First, companies must take care not to put customers in "unforeseen" danger, assuming that those customers act in a "reasonable" manner when using a product or service.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

While a "buddy system" encourages medics to alert each other to problems, there are unforeseen dangers.

The Economist

Their keen sense of smell helps them to get around, although they must be protected from sudden falls and unforeseen dangers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Importantly, they also highlight possible, unforeseen dangers of combination therapies in which an immunotherapy, even delivered locally at the tumor site, may systemically sensitize the patient to a cytokine shock-like response triggered by IV delivery of oncolytic virus.

Molecular Therapy

Labour is facing a dilemma over how far to back George Osborne's plans to let people take large lump sums out of their pensions, with Dame Anne Begg, the chairman of the Commons work and pensions committee, joining senior figures warning of unforeseen dangers in the proposals.

The Guardian

While considering worst-case scenarios is important for the development of sound policy, taking action based only on worst-case thinking can introduce unforeseen dangers and costs.

Duke University

The new communist order offered unprecedented opportunities as well as unforeseen dangers".

Wikipedia

But 44percentt said they worry that DNA research involves unforeseen dangers.

Huffington Post

("No way," he gasps. "Where do they all fit?") Ma also ponders the nature of the options she and her son have, and whether those options have unforeseen dangers and risks worth taking.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential future scenarios, consider using "unforeseen danger" to acknowledge risks that are difficult to predict.

Common error

Avoid using "unforeseen danger" when the danger is reasonably predictable. Opt for more specific terminology when describing well-known risks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unforeseen danger" functions as a noun phrase, where "unforeseen" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "danger". Ludwig AI confirms that it is used to describe a risk or threat that was not anticipated.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unforeseen danger" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase describing unexpected risks. While relatively rare, as noted by Ludwig, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. Use it to effectively communicate the presence of unanticipated threats, but avoid overuse in predictable contexts. Consider alternatives like "unexpected hazard" or "unanticipated threat" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected hazard

Focuses on hazards that were not anticipated.

unanticipated threat

Highlights the element of surprise and lack of preparation.

unforeseen hazard

Synonymous, but emphasizes potential hazards.

unpredicted risk

Emphasizes the inability to predict the risk.

sudden threat

Highlights the suddenness and immediacy of the danger.

unforeseen peril

Uses a more literary term for danger.

unforeseeable threat

Adds emphasis on the impossibility of foreseeing the threat.

unexpected peril

A combination of unexpectedness and the literary term for danger.

latent danger

Focuses on the danger being hidden or undeveloped until it manifests.

hidden risk

Emphasizes the risk being concealed or not easily noticeable.

FAQs

How can I use "unforeseen danger" in a sentence?

You can use "unforeseen danger" to describe unexpected risks or threats, such as, "The company faced the "unforeseen danger" of a sudden market crash".

What is a good alternative to "unforeseen danger"?

Alternatives include "unexpected hazard", "unanticipated threat", or "unpredicted risk", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "unforeseen danger" and "obvious danger"?

"Unforeseen danger" refers to a risk that was not anticipated, while "obvious danger" refers to a risk that is easily noticeable or predictable.

Is it correct to say "unforeseen dangers" or should I always use "unforeseen danger"?

Both are correct. "Unforeseen danger" refers to a general, singular instance of unexpected risk, while "unforeseen dangers" refers to multiple, specific instances of unexpected risks or threats.