an accident/a disaster waiting to happen

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Also found in: Acronyms.

an accident waiting to happen

A person, thing, or situation that appears to be imminently dangerous or troublesome. Often but not always used somewhat humorously. Don't leave that ladder in the middle of the yard, it's just an accident waiting to happen! My toddler is starting to walk now, and she is just an accident waiting to happen. Did you really just bring three rambunctious boys into an antique store with you? That's just an accident waiting to happen!

See also: accident, an, happen, to, waiting

an accident waiting to happen

COMMON

1. If you describe a situation or activity as an accident waiting to happen, you mean that they are likely to be a cause of danger in the future. A lot of the city's buildings are accidents waiting to happen. The sudden explosion of a real bullet on stage during the play was an accident waiting to happen.

2. If you describe a person as an accident waiting to happen, you mean that they are likely to cause trouble or have bad problems. He was getting a reputation for being wild — an accident waiting to happen.

See also: accident, an, happen, to, waiting

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

an accident waiting to happen

1 a potentially disastrous situation, usually caused by negligent or faulty procedures. 2 a person certain to cause trouble.

1 1997 Times Accidents are often said to be ‘waiting to happen’. It does not take much imagination to see that the chaotic start to the Whitbread round-the-world race…could easily have ended in tragedy.

See also: accident, an, happen, to, waiting

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

an ˌaccident/a diˌsaster waiting to ˈhappen

a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave: For many months local residents had been complaining that the building was unsafe, and that it was an accident waiting to happen.

See also: accident, an, disaster, happen, to, waiting

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive ?

Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods boycotted the official opening ceremony in July last year after describing the improvement works as "very disappointing" and the traffic lay out on Saddler Street as "an accident waiting to happen".

Revamp to centre is to be revamped; New work after criticism of pounds 5m improvements

That all meant Britain dropped to 17th in the rankings Van Commenee said: "It was always an accident waiting to happen that didn't happen here necessarily, it is a process over a number of years.

Relay flop inevitable; ATHLETICS

Commenting that it was "an accident waiting to happen", the judge said that the firm in charge of the building project and airports authority BAA should also be prosecuted for their role in the accident.

Building firm fined over Gatwick incident

Indeed, this study charges, the pipeline may be an accident waiting to happen.

Integrity of Alaska pipeline questioned

Some analysts and real estate experts are convinced that certain REITs have become over-valued and are an accident waiting to happen. On the other hand, many REITs have been traded on the stock exchanges for decades and have proven performance and track records.

REITs: key to capital or fad?

Police said it was an 'accident waiting to happen'.

Cops seize car with no tax, insurance, MOT, or handbrake

BY TOM PETTIFOR Chief Crime Correspondent THE "callous" cyclist who killed a mum-of-two while riding an illegal bike was branded an "accident waiting to happen" as he was jailed for 18 months.

Killer crash cyclist 'an accident waiting to happen' Illegal rider jailed as judge slams attitude

FRUSTRATED residents say a parking problem is making their road "an accident waiting to happen".

Residents claim builders' parking is a safety threat

Jonathan Hall: "It's an accident waiting to happen, you can't see what's coming round the roundabout at the top of the sliproad now until you are virtually past the junction, the sooner it's taken down the better."

TWEETS & POSTS

As this effectively blinds motorists as they approach one of the two pedestrian crossings across this busy road, surely it's an accident waiting to happen, and one that our planning department should have seen coming?

Glaring error; Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk You Say

LUIS SUAREZ was "an accident waiting to happen" and the "time had come" for him to leave Liverpool this summer, according to Richard Scudamore.

Uruguayan was 'accident waiting to happen' - PL boss

Rae Lee Ahlhelm Simmonds ACCIDENT waiting to happen with recent events that took place in an Asda store; too easy access to lethal weapons?

Word on the web Brave people act quickly when man waves a "large knife" around outside Tesco

As there are no handrails on the steep stairs, I fear it's an accident waiting to happen.

Texts

As the rescuers rush into the burning building, Kerry's well-deserved reputation as an accident waiting to happen is rubber-stamped.

WE LOVE SOAPS

I HAVE driven along Ashes Lane almost daily for 35 years and that pole has been an accident waiting to happen for years (Examiner, 'Is this pole posing a danger to drivers?', June 29).

It is a danger road; Mailbag letters also appear online at www.examiner.co.uk/letters Mailbag