In Your Words...

Friday, August 24, 2012

"go out on a limb"

If you go out on a limb, you put yourself in a risky position in order to support someone or something.

He knew it could damage his career, but Keith went out on a limb and said he supported the anti-war protesters.
I don't think that saying you support gay rights means you're going out on a limb these days.

Origin: Probably metaphorical, from the fact that if you're climbing a tree and you go too far out on a limb, you're taking a risk because the limb could break and you could fall to the ground and hurt yourself.