for fear of
English
Prepositional phrase
for fear of
- In order to try to prevent the risk of a particular thing happening.
- 1960 March, “Motive Power Miscellany: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 184:
- [...] but in the damp conditions prevailing the driver sensibly was unwilling to attempt the climb up through Combe Down tunnel without help, for fear of slipping to a standstill in the unventilated bore, [...].
References
- “for fear of” in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press.