An early print reference can be found in the steubenville daily herald, in october 1895. Synonyms for go out on a limb at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Because the word limb can refer to the branches of a tree. Out on a limb definition, a part or member of an animal body distinct from the head and trunk, as a leg, arm, or wing.
You would think that virtually everyone knows the expression out on a limb. Even those who utter out on a whim may know it in its correct formand they may be making the substitution on a subliminal level. The term go out on a limb originates from the practice of climbing trees, which people have been doing since the beginning of time. Where does the phrase going out on a limb come from. Interesting fact no one is certain when the expression out on the town was first used. Definition of out on a limb in the idioms dictionary. The limb being talked about here is the branch of a tree and out on a limb is an allusion to climbing trees and going just a bit further than is comfortable. Go out on a limb definition and meaning collins english.
Out on a limb meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Many translated example sentences containing go out on a limb spanishenglish dictionary and search engine for spanish translations. Definition of go out on a limb in the idioms dictionary. Out on a limb article about out on a limb by the free. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Go out on a limb definition by babylons free dictionary. Going out on a limb and other corny cliches bubby joys. The expression was first used in a figurative sense in america during the late 19th century. You use the expression go out on a limb to indicate that you are supporting someone or something despite putting yourself at a potential disadvantage. Go out on a limb it means to put oneself in an isolated or disadvantaged position in ones support of someone or something.
If someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in even though it. Synonyms for going out on a limb include venturing, daring, presuming, undertaking, taking the liberty, having the audacity, having the cheek, having the courage, having the guts and having the nerve. Out on a limb definition and meaning collins english dictionary. What is the origin of the expression to go out on a limb. Im going to go out on a limb and guess you put that on your credit card. In this example dialogue, the idiom is used in a conversation to describe making a wild guess. Information and translations of go out on a limb in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
There is a risk that the branch might break under the weight. Eggcorn forum go out on a whim for go out on a limb. The limb of a tree is never as stable as the trunk. Going out on a limb community association management. My neighbors trees and overhanging limbs are shading out part of my yard where i would like to grow grass and other plants that need sun. Im going to go out on a limb here, and totally dismiss the reference from the herald above as being not in the real sense as i know it. Im going to go out on a limb and approve his request for additional research funding.
In this video tutorial, were going to be talking about the muscles of the arm. It is more prone to sway in the wind and to break under heavy weight. Download our english dictionary apps available for both ios and android. They can see themselves going out on a limb, voting for a very controversial energy bill. Hey, maggie, im going to go out on a limb here and say that youre upset about something. Out on a limb definition and meaning collins english. Its like here, its like saying youre going to take a risk, you are going to put yourself in a vulnerable position, right. My answer is going to be slightly different than the ones you will find on the internet. Jul 26, 2007 out on a limb in an exposed or dangerous position. These muscles play various roles in the movements of the upper limb.
All of us must remember that feeling of not wanting to go further out to reach that appleball or whatever for fear that the branch limb would break under us. So, hopefully, you guys understand the expression to go out on a limb. Oct 29, 2016 going out on a limb for jesus with zacchaeus. I dont think im going out on a limb by saying that everyone will like that. But when people are so bold as to go out on a limb in their writing, calling attention to cliches by inserting. Feb 09, 2020 go out on a limb thirdperson singular simple present goes out on a limb, present participle going out on a limb, simple past went out on a limb, past participle gone out on a limb to take a risk. Whoever came up with that expression painted an incredibly vivid picture. Origin the phrase alludes to climbing trees and going out on a branch limb of it. Apr 20, 2015 video shows what go out on a limb means. The term became popular after a stage production called out on the town was performed in 1944, and it gained even more popularity when a film by the same name was produced in 1949. What is the origin of the phrase from the horses mouth. In alot of cases, the person is saying it with sarcasm followed by an obvious statement like.
Volume 232, issue 3094, 8 october 2016, pages 2021. If someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in even though it is risky or extreme, and is likely to fail or be criticized by other people. Going out on a limb for jesus with zacchaeus aleteia. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Mar 10, 2009 being out on a limb requires you to be very vulnerable because theres nothing below youyoure just out on this limb with nothing to catch you if you fall. This seems to indicate a series of actions designed to move an opponent to a position whereby they are trapped and can be killed of a sort of give em enough rope expression. Sep 16, 2016 going out on a limb kate swaffer september 16, 2016 ive been trying to post more regular boots for world alzheimers month 2016, and felt it appropriate today to would share one that may be mildly contentious. One can surmise that the literal origin of this saying was the treed animal, which was highly vulnerable to the hunter if it got out on a limb.
Clearly that construction was inspired by out on a limb. Find descriptive alternatives for go out on a limb. The common understanding of the idiom is that stable boys who groomed racing horses would do inspections of. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title out on a limb. I am really going out on a limb supporting you with this, many people dont think it will work. Go out on a limb meaning and origins know your phrase. He doesnt want to go out on a limb, but he really should give it a try. Origin from the danger involved in going out onto the.
It is reflective of actually physically doing just what the phrase describes, climbing out on the limb of a tree, in this case because you are attempting to retrieve high hanging fruit. Like if you go out on a limb, you state an opinion which is very different to most other people. The two books certainly share the same comic outlook, with every character an eccentric and every episode retold with tongue in cheek. So if someone climbed a tree and went out onto its limbs, they would, in other words, be going out onto the trees branches. The origin of go out on a limb where does the phrase go out on a limb come from. Origin of to go out on a limb this idiom most likely developed from the practice of climbing trees, in which the farther away from the trunk or, in other words, the further out on the limb that a person went, the more dangerous it was. But pretend for a moment that you are little again. I was wondering about the source of the expression going out on a bit of a limb.
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