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Throw caution to the wind

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An idiom meaning to act recklessly or without caution, disregarding potential risks or consequences, likening careless behavior to throwing caution away like an unnecessary object into the wind.

Detailed Definition
Throw caution to the wind means to abandon restraint, prudence, or fear and act boldly, impulsively, or recklessly. In poetry, the idiom’s wind image suggests release, exposure, and surrender to forces beyond control. It can describe love, rebellion, travel, spending, confession, or artistic experiment. A poet may use it admiringly when courage breaks paralysis, or critically when recklessness ignores consequence. The phrase is useful for threshold moments where safety is sacrificed for intensity, freedom, or desire.
Example
Example in poetry:
A romantic poem might show the lovers throwing caution to the wind and running through rain; In a quest poem, the hero throws caution to the wind at the dragon's gate; The phrase means to act boldly despite risk; A poet can use it for passion and recklessness.
Additional Notes
Throw caution to the wind means act recklessly or boldly without concern for risk. The wind image suggests releasing restraint into the air, where it cannot be recovered. In poetry, it can describe love, rebellion, travel, gambling, confession, or youthful daring. Students should ask whether the act is liberation or folly. It pairs well with cliffs, sails, hair, cards, storms, and moments when desire overpowers prudence.
Also Known As
risk
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