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Skate on Thin Ice

What Does "Skate on Thin Ice" Mean?

homeidiomsSkate on Thin Ice
"Skate on thin ice" is an English idiom suggesting that someone is engaging in risky or precarious behavior that could lead to trouble or danger.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "skate on thin ice" used in a sentence:
  • He's been skipping classes, and he's really skating on thin ice with the school administration.
  • Engaging in reckless spending when you're already in debt is like skating on thin ice.
  • She knew that lying on her resume was skating on thin ice, as the truth could be discovered during a background check.
meaning for skate on thin ice

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Skate on Thin Ice" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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