ask for it

verb

To provoke an unwanted action; to invite a problem or fail to prevent one.

“Leaving your wallet visible on the car seat is just asking for it.”

Similar
ask for troublelook for trouble
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Meanings

verbask for it (third-person singular simple present asks for it, present participle asking for it, simple past and past participle asked for it)

present singular third person asks for it · participle present asking for it · participle past asked for it · past asked for it

  1. idiomaticinformalTo provoke an unwanted action; to invite a problem or fail to prevent one.

    Leaving your wallet visible on the car seat is just asking for it.

    Synonyms: ask for trouble, look for trouble

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ask for, it.

    If you'd like a fresh towel at any point during your stay, just ask for it.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo provoke an unwanted action; to invite a problem or fail to prevent one.

Similar
ask for troublelook for trouble

More synonyms by meaning

verbpersist with actions or an attitude despite the probability that it will cause trouble

Similar
ask for trouble
Broader
perseverepersisthang in
Also see
ask for trouble

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 找碴, 找事
  • 找碴 (zhǎochá)provoke an unwanted action
  • 找事 (zhǎoshì)provoke an unwanted action
Czech koledovat si
  • koledovat siprovoke an unwanted action
Dutch erom vragen
  • erom vragenprovoke an unwanted action
Finnish kerjätä sitä, kaivaa verta nenästään
  • kerjätä sitäprovoke an unwanted action
  • kaivaa verta nenästäänprovoke an unwanted action
French le chercher, chercher la merde
  • le chercherprovoke an unwanted action
  • chercher la merdeprovoke an unwanted action
Greek πάω γυρεύοντας
  • πάω γυρεύοντας (páo gyrévontas)provoke an unwanted action
Italian cercare rogne, andare in cerca di guai
  • cercare rogneprovoke an unwanted action
  • andare in cerca di guaiprovoke an unwanted action
  • andare in cerca di rogneprovoke an unwanted action
  • cercarselaprovoke an unwanted action
Polish szukać guza, prosić się o kłopoty
  • szukać guzaprovoke an unwanted action
  • prosić się o kłopotyprovoke an unwanted action
Portuguese procurar sarna para se coçar, estar a pedi-las
  • procurar sarna para se coçarprovoke an unwanted action
  • estar a pedi-lasprovoke an unwanted action
  • procurar encrencaprovoke an unwanted action
  • caçar problemaprovoke an unwanted action
Romanian căuta cu lumânarea, căuta pe dracul
  • căuta cu lumânareaprovoke an unwanted action
  • căuta pe draculprovoke an unwanted action
Russian напра́шиваться, напроси́ться
  • напра́шиваться (naprášivatʹsja)provoke an unwanted action
  • напроси́ться (naprosítʹsja)provoke an unwanted action
  • лезть на рожо́н (leztʹ na rožón)provoke an unwanted action
Slovak koledovať si
  • koledovať siprovoke an unwanted action
Spanish dar papaya
  • dar papayaprovoke an unwanted action
Swedish tigga om det
  • tigga om detprovoke an unwanted action
Ukrainian напроситися
  • напроситися (naprosytysja)provoke an unwanted action
Cite this entry
APA

ask for it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ask%20for%20it

MLA

“ask for it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ask%20for%20it. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ask for it,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ask%20for%20it.

Source: ask for it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.