at a venture
At random; in an arbitrary manner. They'll choose a winner at a venture, so we all have the same chance of getting picked. I don't understand why our company is being targeted. It's as if we were picked at a venture by the IRS! Look, life gives you options at a venture. You decide how you respond to them.
nothing ventured, nothing gained
proverb Risks must be taken in order to achieve anything significant or meaningful. A: "I'm thinking of asking my bosses for a raise, but I'm a little bit nervous." B: "Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained." It was a bit of a shot in the dark taking a job in a different country, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!
venture forth
1. To move forward, especially in a courageous but cautious or wary manner. The explorers ventured forth, hoping to find the remains of the ancient civilization in the dense jungle. Before we venture forth, I suggest we all check that we have adequate supplies.
2. To proceed with some action or undertaking despite potential obstacles or dangers. Now that you have completed your degrees, you are all ready to venture forth into the world and truly begin the rest of your lives!
venture into (some place)
To move forward into some place, especially in a courageous but cautious or wary manner. The explorers ventured into the dense jungle, hoping to find the remains of the ancient civilization they had read about. No way am I venturing into some pitch-black cave—who knows what might be lurking in there!
venture on (someone or something)
To discover or encounter someone or something unexpectedly or by chance. We ventured on a charming little restaurant as we cycled through the countryside. The two boys ventured on a man claiming to have magical beans for sale.
venture out
1. To proceed bravely out into some unknown or dangerous place. The group of explorers is getting ready to venture out into the wilds of Antarctica. It was nearly midnight by the time we arrived at our hotel, so we had to wait until the next morning to venture out and explore Tokyo.
2. To exit through (some passageway), especially in a cautious or wary manner. The sirens may have stopped blaring, but I wasn't about to venture out my door just yet. We weren't allowed to venture out the gate of the military compound unless we were accompanied by armed guards.
venture out of (some place)
To leave some place bravely, warily, or cautiously, as due to potential dangers, risks, or uncertainties. The sirens may have stopped blaring, but I wasn't about to venture out of my house until I knew for sure it was safe. We weren't allowed to venture out of the military compound unless we were accompanied by armed guards. What's the point of traveling all the way to Tokyo if you're not going to even venture out of the hotel?
venture upon (someone or something)
To discover or encounter someone or something unexpectedly or by chance. We ventured upon a charming little restaurant as we cycled through the countryside. The two boys ventured upon a man claiming to have magical beans for sale.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
If you do not take risks, you will never accomplish anything. Bill: Should I ask my boss for a promotion? Jane: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think I'll audition for a part in that play. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
venture forth
1. Fig. to set out; to go forward; to go out cautiously. George ventured forth into the night. I think I will venture forth. It looks safe.
2. Fig. to go forth bravely. Let us venture forth and conquer the enemy. We will arm ourselves and venture forth against our foe.
venture out (something)
and venture out of (something)to go out of something cautiously. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Peter ventured out of his house for only a minute into the cold. He ventured out the door for only a moment.
venture (up)on someone or something
to come upon someone or something by chance. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on. The entire expression is formal or stilted.) David ventured upon Fred, who was out looking for mushrooms. I ventured on a little shop on Maple Street that deals in old model trains.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
nothing ventured, nothing gained
If you won’t take a chance you can’t expect to achieve anything. There are two older proverbial forms of this expression, nothing (nought) venture, nothing (nought) have, stated by Chaucer (ca. 1374), and nothing venture, nothing win, stated by William Caxton about a century later. The modern form appears in Thomas Heywood’s play Captives (1624): “I see here that nought venters, nothinge gaynes.” It has been repeated in numerous languages ever since. Another, seemingly modern form is no pain, no gain, today frequently uttered by coaches, trainers, and physical therapists. Versions of this date from the early seventeenth century—“Pain is forgotten where gain follows” appeared in several early proverb collections—and the current rhyming cliché was proverbial by the mid-nineteenth century.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer