Chapter Words Relating to the Voluntary Powers of Index by Roget's Thesaurus

(Phrases). The ground sliding from under one; breakers ahead; the sword of Damocles.

Liability, exposure 177, vulnerability, vulnerable point, the heel of Achilles.

Hopelessness 859, forlorn hope, alarm, see Fear 860, defencelessness.

(Verbs). To be in danger, etc., to be exposed to, to incur or encounter danger, run the danger of, run a risk.

(Phrases). To hang by a thread; to sit on a barrel of gunpowder; stand on a volcano.

To place or put in danger, etc., to endanger, expose to danger, imperil, jeopardise, compromise, adventure, risk, hazard, venture, stake.

(Phrases). To open the door to; to engage in a forlorn hope.

To ensnare, entrap, trap, entangle, illaqueate, noose.

(Phrase). To lay or set a trap for.

(Adjectives). In danger, peril, jeopardy, etc., unsafe, insecure, unguarded, unscreened, unsheltered, unprotected, guardless, helpless, guideless, exposed, defenceless, vulnerable, at bay, on a lee-shore, on the rocks, waterlogged, aux abois, between two fires, in a tight place; at stake.

Unwarned, unadmonished, unadvised.

Dangerous, perilous, hazardous, parlous, risky, chancy, fraught with danger, adventurous, precarious, touch-and-go, breakneck, slippery, unsteady, shaky, tottering, top-heavy, harbourless, ticklish, dicky.

Threatening, ominous, alarming, minatory, minacious 909.

(Phrases). Not out of the wood; hanging by a thread; neck or nothing; out of the frying-pan into the fire; cane pejus et angui; between Scylla and Charybdis; breakers ahead; a snake in the grass; hard bested.

Nam tua res agitur paries dum proximus ardet; incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdim.

• Means of safety.

Refuge (Substantives), asylum, sanctuary, fastness, retreat, ark, hiding-place, dug-out, funk-hole, loophole, shelter.

Roadstead, anchorage, break-water, mole, port, haven, harbour, harbour of refuge, pier.

Fort, citadel, fortification, etc., shield, etc., see Defence 717.

Screen, covert, wing, fence, rail, railing, wall, dike, ditch, etc. 232.

Anchor, kedge, grapnel, sheet-anchor, prop, stay, mainstay, jury-mast, life-boat, life-buoy, life-belt, plank, stepping-stone, umbrella, parachute, lightning-conductor, safety-valve, grappling, safety-lamp.

• Source of danger.

Pitfall (Substantives), rocks, reefs, sunken rocks, snags, sands, quicksands, breakers, shoals, shallows, bank, shelf, flat, lee-shore, air-pocket.

Trap, snare, gin, springe, toils, noose, net, spring-net, spring-gun, masked battery, mine.

(Phrases). The sword of Damocles; a snake in the grass; trusting to a broken reed; a lion's den; proximus ardet Ucalegon.