throw caution to the wind

Meaning

To stop worrying about danger, risks, or negative consequences and decide to take a bold, sometimes reckless action anyway. It is often used when someone makes a sudden, exciting decision, such as quitting a job to travel or investing in a risky venture.

Examples

• After months of hesitation, she decided to throw caution to the wind and book a one-way ticket to Paris.

  After months of hesitation, she decided to throw caution to the wind and book a one-way ticket to Paris.

• We decided to throw caution to the wind and start our own business during the recession.

  We decided to throw caution to the wind and start our own business during the recession.

• Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and tell someone how you really feel.

  Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and tell someone how you really feel.

• He threw caution to the wind and spent his entire savings on a vintage sports car.

  He threw caution to the wind and spent his entire savings on a vintage sports car.

• Instead of playing it safe, the team threw caution to the wind and played a highly aggressive game.

  Instead of playing it safe, the team threw caution to the wind and played a highly aggressive game.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She threw her caution to the wind.

  ✓ She threw caution to the wind.

  Do not use possessive pronouns like 'her' or 'his' with 'caution' in this idiom; it is always 'throw caution to the wind.'

• ✗ He threw caution into the wind.

  ✓ He threw caution to the wind.

  The correct preposition used in this established idiom is 'to,' not 'into' or 'in.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• I was terrified of public speaking, but I decided to ___ and sign up for the debate.

  💡 Ignore the risks and do it anyway.

  Show answer

  throw caution to the wind

• They finally decided to ___ and buy the fixer-upper house.

  💡 Act boldly despite potential risks.

  Show answer

  throw caution to the wind