risk doing something
Advanced Chunks – Category 7

Meaning

to expose oneself to danger or possible loss by doing something

Primary Function

expresses potential negative consequence

Communicative Purpose

to warn or admit bold action

Pattern

risk

Core Structure

risk

Função primária

expresses potential negative consequence

Propósito comunicativo

to warn or admit bold action

Situações de gatilho

risk assessment meetings, safety warnings, proposing daring strategies

Contextos

professional settings (business, finance), everyday conversation about cautious decisions

Padrão

risk

Estrutura central

risk

Slots de substituição

losing/failing/offending; any noun denoting loss/harm/danger can replace doing

Colocados típicos

  • dare not
  • can’t afford to
  • carefully
  • willing to risk doing

Substituições comuns

  • take a chance on doing
  • chance doing
  • run the risk of

Erros comuns

using infinitive forms like *risk to lose or *run the risk of (the gerund form is idiomatic in English); omitting ‘doing’ when emphasizing action.

Similar / contraste

avoid doing something, dare to do something, hesitate to do something

Interferências

Learners may incorrectly use the infinitive ('risk to do') due to L1 transfer from languages where risk takes an infinitive.

Família do chunk

  • risk doing something
  • risk losing
  • risk failing
  • risk getting hurt

Nuance

implies a willingness to accept the possible negative outcome of the action

Efeito pragmático

signals a warning or advisory stance toward an action

Dica de memória

danger when doing

Nota

Used to caution against or acknowledge actions with possible negative outcomes; common in advice, warnings, and strategic discussions.

Upgrade path

run the risk of doing something

Frequência: HighFormulaicidade: Semi-fixedTipo de construção: PhrasePrioridade de aquisição: UnknownPrioridade de output: BothTag de espaçamento: Short-term

Log in to save chunks.