run the risk of

Meaning

This expression means to do something that might result in something bad, dangerous, or unpleasant happening. In entertainment and creative industries, it is often used when discussing how a bold artistic choice might backfire or fail.

Examples

• If the movie is too long, it runs the risk of boring the audience.

  If the movie is too long, it runs the risk of boring the audience.

• By casting an unknown actor, the studio runs the risk of low box office sales.

  By casting an unknown actor, the studio runs the risk of low box office sales.

• If you change the source material too much, you run the risk of upsetting the original fans.

  If you change the source material too much, you run the risk of upsetting the original fans.

• The video game sequel runs the risk of feeling too repetitive if they don't add new mechanics.

  The video game sequel runs the risk of feeling too repetitive if they don't add new mechanics.

• Musicians who never change their style run the risk of becoming irrelevant.

  Musicians who never change their style run the risk of becoming irrelevant.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ If you do that, you run the risk to lose your money.

  ✓ If you do that, you run the risk of losing your money.

  'Run the risk of' must be followed by a gerund (verb-ing) or a noun, not an infinitive ('to lose').

• ✗ They ran the risk for a cancellation.

  ✓ They ran the risk of cancellation.

  The preposition following 'risk' in this idiom is always 'of', not 'for'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we release the album now, we ___ clashing with the holiday rush.

  💡 Face the danger or possibility of.

  Show answer

  run the risk of

• Artists who copy others ___ being called unoriginal.

  💡 Put themselves in a position where they might experience a negative outcome.

  Show answer

  run the risk of