Idiom
Go out on a limb
To go out on a limb is to take a risk by saying or doing something that others may not agree with or support.
How people use it
People often use it before making a bold guess or prediction: I'll go out on a limb and say it won't rain. It can also mean taking a risk to help someone: My teacher went out on a limb to get me into the program. The tone is informal and neutral. It suggests standing alone, with less support than usual. Out on a limb on its own describes being in a risky or isolated position.
Also said: out on a limb.
Examples
- I'll go out on a limb and predict that the underdog wins the final.
- Mr. Lee went out on a limb to recommend Omar for the internship.
- Priya went out on a limb by suggesting a totally new design at the meeting.
Where it comes from
The phrase comes from climbing trees. A limb is a large branch, and the farther you move out along it, the thinner it gets and the more likely it is to bend or break. Someone out on a limb is in a risky spot with little to hold onto. It was in use in American English by the late 1800s.
Check yourself
1. If a coworker goes out on a limb for you, what has she done?
Answer: Taken a risk to support you. Going out on a limb means taking a risk, often for someone else.
2. Where does the idiom come from?
Answer: Climbing out along a tree branch. A limb is a branch, and moving far out along it is risky.
Similar idioms
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