An accident waiting to happen
Meaning
This phrase describes a situation, person, or object that is so inherently flawed or risky that a negative event or disaster is highly likely to occur.
Origin
The phrase "an accident waiting to happen" is a relatively modern idiom, first gaining traction in the mid-20th century. Its direct, literal construction reflects the growing awareness and analysis of risk, particularly in industrial and public safety contexts. As societies became more complex, with elaborate machinery and infrastructure, the concept of a preventable disaster—one whose precursors were glaringly obvious—became a crucial part of safety discourse. The idiom encapsulates this idea perfectly: it’s not just a potential accident, but one whose inevitability feels so strong that it’s simply 'waiting' for its moment, a testament to overlooked dangers and predictable human error.
Examples
- The old, rickety rollercoaster with rusted bolts and flickering lights was clearly an accident waiting to happen.
- Ignoring the repeated warnings about the faulty wiring in the kitchen was an accident waiting to happen, and eventually, it led to a small fire.