ride for a fall, to - To behave recklessly and heedlessly. The analogy to the daredevil rider has been around since the late nineteenth century. J. D. Salinger used it in The Catcher in the Rye (1951): “I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall.”
Synonyms:
- Courting disaster
- Flirting with danger
- Sailing close to the wind
- Playing with fire
- Tempting fate
Antonyms:
- Playing it safe
- Erring on the side of caution
- Walking on eggshells
- Keeping one’s nose clean
Related Expressions & Proverbs:
- “If you play with fire, you might get burned.”
- “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
- “There’s no use closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.”
- “Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.”
Humor-Filled Quote:
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
Recommended Literature:
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
Songs:
- Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
- I Fought the Law by The Clash
- Living on the Edge by Aerosmith
Movies:
- Top Gun (1986) - Maverick rides for a fall throughout the entire film.
- Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - Everyone’s riding for a fall in this high-octane adventure.
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) - Risk-taking at its finest.
Poetry:
The Road not Taken
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
—Robert Frost
Inspirational Farewell:
Embrace your inner daredevil, understand when to take risks and when to rein it in. Life’s journey is all about finding that balance between thrill and caution. May you ride through the winds of change without falling. 🌟
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Riding for a fall
- [ ] Paddling with unicorns
- [ ] Flying on a potato
- [ ] Diving with elephants
> **Explanation:** "Riding for a fall" is a well-known idiom describing reckless behavior. The others? Fantastical nonsense!
### Which phrase means 'to behave recklessly'?
- [ ] Playing it safe
- [x] Flirting with danger
- [ ] Treading lightly
- [ ] Flying under the radar
> **Explanation:** "Flirting with danger" is a phrase that implies reckless behavior. The other options suggest caution.
### True or False: 'Courting disaster' is synonymous with 'riding for a fall.'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Both idioms imply taking risks and behaving recklessly.
