Meaning of for fear of | Babel Free

Definitions

In order to attempt to prevent the risk of (a particular incident or event occurring).

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“[...] but in the damp conditions prevailing the driver sensibly was unwilling to attempt the climb up through Combe Down tunnel without help, for fear of slipping to a standstill in the unventilated bore, [...].”

“‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police[…]? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?’”

CEFR level