Meanings
- figurativelyidiomaticoftenIn a risky, precarious, daring, or uncompromising position, especially one outside of the mainstream; vulnerable.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:out on a limb.
1 more example
Sitting on the dockside at Oban, watching the to-ing and fro-ing in the harbour on a perfect summer's eve, I reflect on a trip which has taken me through our busiest cities to traverse the country's main lines, as well as explore some of the furthest extremities that were literally out on a limb.
2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 79
Origin
In reference to the risks of climbing out on the branch or limb of a tree.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Polish nadstawiać karku, nadstawić karku
- nadstawiać karkuTranslations
- nadstawić karkuTranslations
Cite this entry
out on a limb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/out%20on%20a%20limb
“out on a limb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/out%20on%20a%20limb. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “out on a limb,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/out%20on%20a%20limb.
Source: out on a limb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.