a/one false move
a/one false move
An action that threatens to worsen an already precarious situation. We didn't call the police because the robber said he'd hurt anyone who made a false move. If we make one false move now, we're liable to lose the house we're bidding on.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
false move
and one false moveFig. [even] a single movement that indicates that one is disobeying an order to remain still or in a nonthreatening posture. The robber threatened to shoot us if we made one false move.
move (from some place) (to some place)
to travel from one place to another. The whole family moved from Denver to Chicago. We moved to the country.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
(make) a/one false ˈmove
(informal) in an already dangerous or risky situation, something which makes your position even more dangerous: She’s in a difficult financial situation, and if she makes a false move now she could lose everything. ♢ ‘One false move and you’re dead,’ he shouted at the bank clerk.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017