ROGET'S THESAURUS OF ENGLISH WORDS AND PHRASES ...

a precipice, on the edge of a volcano; in the lion's den, on slippery ground, under fire; not
out of the wood.
unwarned, unadmonished, unadvised, unprepared &c 674; off one's guard &c
(inexpectant) 508 [Obs.].
tottering; unstable, unsteady; shaky, top-heavy, tumbledown, ramshackle, crumbling,
waterlogged; helpless, guideless † ; in a bad way; reduced to the last extremity, at the last
extremity; trembling in the balance; nodding to its fall &c (destruction) 162.
threatening &c 909; ominous, illomened; alarming &c (fear) 860; explosive.
adventurous &c (rash) 863, (bold) 861.
Phr. incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdim [Lat.]; nam tua res agitur paries dum
proximus ardet [Lat.].
666. [Means of safety.] Refuge -- N. refuge, sanctuary, retreat, fastness; acropolis; keep,
last resort; ward; prison &c 752; asylum, ark, home, refuge for the destitute; almshouse † ;
hiding place &c (ambush) 530; sanctum sanctorum &c (privacy) 893 [Lat.].
roadstead, anchorage; breakwater, mole, port, haven; harbor, harbor of refuge; seaport;
pier, jetty, embankment, quay.
covert, cover, shelter, screen, lee wall, wing, shield, umbrella; barrier; dashboard,
dasher [U.S.].
wall &c (inclosure) 232; fort &c (defense) 717.
anchor, kedge; grapnel, grappling iron; sheet anchor, killick † ; mainstay; support &c
215; cheek &c 706; ballast.
jury mast; vent-peg; safety valve, blow-off valve; safety lamp; lightning rod, lightning
conductor; safety belt, airbag, seat belt; antilock brakes, antiskid tires, snow tires.
means of escape &c (escape) 671; lifeboat, lifejacket, life buoy, swimming belt, cork
jacket; parachute, plank, steppingstone; emergency landing.
safeguard &c (protection) 664.
V. seek refuge, take refuge, find refuge &c n.; seek safety, find safety &c 664; throw
oneself into the arms of; break for taller timber [U.S.].
create a diversion.
Phr. any port in a storm; bibere venenum in auro [Lat.]; valet anchora virtus † .
667. [Source of danger.] Pitfall -- N. rocks, reefs, coral reef, sunken rocks, snags; sands,
quicksands; syrt † , syrtis † ; Goodwin sands, sandy foundation; slippery ground; breakers,
shoals, shallows, bank, shelf, flat, lee shore, ironbound coast; rock ahead, breakers ahead.
precipice; maelstrom, volcano; ambush &c 530; pitfall, trapdoor; trap &c (snare) 545.
sword of Damocles; wolf at the door, snake in the grass, death in the pot; latency &c
526.
ugly customer, dangerous person, le chat qui dort [Fr.]; firebrand, hornet's nest.
Phr. latet anquis in herba [Lat.] [Vergil]; proximus ardet Ucalegon [Lat.] [Vergil].
668. Warning -- N. warning, early warning, caution, caveat; notice &c (information)
527; premonition, premonishment † ; prediction &c 511; contraindication, lesson,
dehortation † ; admonition, monition; alarm &c 669.
handwriting on the wall, mene mene tekel upharsin, red flag, yellow flag; fog-signal,
foghorn; siren; monitor, warning voice, Cassandra † , signs of the times, Mother Cary's