IdiomDaily Life

English

don't push your luck

Meaning: Don't risk ruining a good situation by asking for more.

Example: “You got the day off; don't push your luck by asking for the week.”

Origin: From gambling, where a winner who keeps betting risks losing everything. The phrase is common from the mid-20th century.

Equivalents in other languages

Portuguese: forçar a barra Literally: To force the bar
French: Faut pas pousser mémé dans les orties Literally: You mustn't push granny into the nettles

See all 3 languages side by side →

More English idioms

yada yada yada And so on; skipping boring details.
swap spit To kiss passionately (slang).
hit the wall To suddenly run out of energy.
grab a bite To eat something quickly.
like a rat in a trap Trapped with no way to escape.
like the cat that got the cream Very pleased with oneself.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Merak An intense, almost obsessive intellectual curiosity — not idle interest, but a passionate…
Philotimo A deep-rooted sense of dignity, generosity, and virtue — doing the right thing out of lov…
Flemme A total absence of motivation to do anything — a profound, almost existential reluctance…

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →