Meaning: Something potentially dangerous or harmful (describing situations, things, or even people).

Examples:

This water all over the floor is an accident waiting to happen.

Her new boyfriend has been in prison three times. Their relationship is an accident waiting to happen.

Letting your kid run around the train is an accident waiting to happen.

Pop Quiz:

Another example of an accident waiting to happen is…

A. locking your door before you go to sleep.

B. an open bottle of soda sitting next to a new, expensive computer.

C. a telephone that doesn’t work anymore after being dropped.

To see the correct answer, click on “Continue Reading”:

The correct answer is B. If you leave an open bottle of soda sitting next to a computer, it’s very possible that someone will accidentally knock it over and the soda will then spill all over the computer and possibly damage it – definitely an accident waiting to happen. You’d better put the soda on the floor or at least put the cap back on! Or better yet, don’t drink soda at all!