ask for trouble

Meaning: To behave in a way likely to cause problems for oneself.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “Leaving your bike unlocked here is asking for trouble.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: As if trouble were something one could request. The phrase is common from the 19th century.

Equivalents in other languages

worth the price of admission — So entertaining that it would be worth paying to watch.
out of this world — Wonderful; extraordinarily good.
the pits — The worst; extremely bad.
sleep on it — To delay a decision until the next day to think it over.
it'll all come out in the wash — Things will work out in the end.
haste makes waste — Doing things too quickly leads to mistakes.

pull a long face — To look sad, sulky or disappointed.
rushed off one's feet — Extremely busy.
the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence — Other people's situations always seem better than one's own.
every cloud has a silver lining — Something good can come out of any bad situation.
no pain, no gain — You must work hard or suffer to achieve something.
where there's a will, there's a way — Determination will find a way to succeed.

Second thoughts are best. — Hasty decisions often falter; pausing to reconsider reveals wiser paths forward.
Every tide has its ebb. — Periods of decline inevitably follow periods of flourishing; change is the only constant…
Take time by the forelock. — Seizing opportunities requires swift action before they slip away or pass beyond your gra…