What Does "Accident Waiting to Happen" Mean?
"Accident waiting to happen" is an English idiom. It means "a potentially dangerous situation."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "accident waiting to happen" used in a sentence:- That old, rickety bridge is an accident waiting to happen.
- Without proper safety measures, that factory is an accident waiting to happen.
- Leaving those chemicals unattended is an accident waiting to happen.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Accident Waiting to Happen" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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