fate (redirected from sealing fate)

be a fate worse than death (humorous)

to be the worst thing that can happen to you. When you're 16, an evening at home with your parents is a fate worse than death.

See also: death, worse

seal someone's fate

if an event seals someone's fate, they are certain to fail or to have an unpleasant experience in the future. His father's illness sealed his fate - Sam gave up his hopes of a college education and stayed home to run the family business.

See also: seal

tempt fate/providence

1. to do something which involves a risk and may cause something unpleasant to happen. I always feel it's tempting fate to leave the house without an umbrella.

2. to cause bad luck for yourself by talking too confidently about a situation. It's probably tempting fate to say so, but I haven't had a cold all year.

See also: tempt

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a fate worse than death

a very bad or unpleasant experience. She felt that having to move to a small town was a fate worse than death.

Usage notes: often used in a humorous way to describe something that is not too serious: Spending a day with my aunt would be a fate worse than death.

See also: death, worse

seal someone's/something's fate

to decide the future of someone or something. His father's illness sealed his fate, making it impossible for him to go to college. The election of Abraham Lincoln sealed the fate of slavery.

Usage notes: usually refers to an unsuccessful or unpleasant future

See also: seal

tempt fate

to take a foolish risk because you are depending too much on luck. She didn't want to tempt fate by turning down the job and hoping something better would be offered.

See also: tempt