English

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Preposition

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for fear of

  1. In order to try to prevent the risk of a particular thing happening.
    • 1960 March, “Motive Power Miscellany: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 184:
      [...] 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, [...].
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References

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