English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Throw caution to the winds
Meaning
The idiom "throw caution to the winds" means to act recklessly or without regard for consequences, to take risks or to discard caution or cautionary advice. It suggests a sense of abandonment and a willingness to embrace danger or uncertainty.
Usage
- She always throws caution to the winds when it comes to her career choices.
- We should have thrown caution to the winds and gone on that camping trip with our friends.
- His impulsive behavior often puts him in risky situations, as he doesn't throw caution to the winds.
- The company's decision to launch a new product without proper market research was reckless and did not throw caution to the winds.
- In times of crisis, it can be tempting to throw caution to the winds and take action quickly, but it's important to carefully consider all options first.
Roots and History
The idiom "throw caution to the winds" dates back at least to Shakespeare's play Othello in 1603, where Cassio says "I'll have these players play something like the murder of my lord Othello ... I will observe his looks; I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench, I know my course," implying that he is willing to take risks and discard caution in order to get revenge. Over time, the idiom has come to be used more broadly to refer to any situation where caution or prudence is disregarded. It has also been used in various cultural contexts, such as in Japanese literature and film, where it is sometimes translated as "to throw caution to the wind" or "to risk everything."
Synonyms in English
- Act recklessly without regard for consequences
- Take risks without caution
- Discard cautionary advice
- Embrace danger or uncertainty
- Go against convention or established norms
Synonyms in other languages
- Throw caution to the winds (Japanese)
- Go against convention or established norms (French)
- Take risks without caution (Spanish)
- Discard cautionary advice (German)
- Act recklessly without regard for consequences (Italian)