英语博客-北美风情 195、To go out on a limb

  Here’s an episode about taking risks. Sooner or later, we all take a risk at work or in our personal lives. To go out on a limb and to stick your neck out can be used to talk about taking a risk. You can also put yourself in jeopardy¹ when you take a risk. Take a risk by listening to this episode and start using these natural English expressions today.

　　Maura: Now, this is an interesting expression, to go out on a limb, but there is a possible origin or a connection to trees.

　　Harp²: Yes, because on a tree, a limb is an open, exposed branch, so it’s like one of the arms of the tree.

　　Maura: Exactly. And if you’re an animal who lives in trees and goes out on a limb, I mean actually goes on a limb, it’s a dangerous place to be because you’re exposed and maybe a hunter or a predator³ or someone who wants to get you could get you because they can see you.

　　Harp: Yes, definitely. Or the limb could break because it’s too weak.

　　Maura: Right. So that’s another danger when an animal goes out on a limb; the limb could break and the animal could fall to the ground. So going out on a limb actually is dangerous.

1 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

2 harp   

n.竖琴；天琴座

参考例句：

• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
• He played an Irish melody on the harp.他用竖琴演奏了一首爱尔兰曲调。

3 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。