tempt fate

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

tempt fate (third-person singular simple present tempts fate, present participle tempting fate, simple past and past participle tempted fate)

1. (idiomatic) To take a risk.

   Synonyms: court disaster, play Russian roulette

   Don't tempt fate by driving without a seatbelt.

2. To take an imagined or superstitiously believed risk of provoking an adverse outcome by mentioning something or making a prediction.

   I shouldn't tempt fate, but it looks like it's going to rain.

   "I'm sure everything will work out fine" — "Don't tempt fate!"

Translations

Translations

• Dutch: het lot tarten
• Finnish: uhmata kohtaloa
• French: tenter le diable (fr)
• Greek: προκαλώ τη μοίρα (prokaló ti moíra)
• Hungarian: kísérti a sorsot
• Polish: kusić los impf, skusić los pf
• Russian: искуша́ть судьбу́ impf (iskušátʹ sudʹbú)
• Spanish: tentar al diablo (es), tentar a la suerte (es)
• Ukrainian: випробо́вувати до́лю impf (vyprobóvuvaty dólju)

See also

• risk one's life and limb
• hostage to fortune
• cheat fate