singe your wings
singe (one's) wings
To suffer harm, defeat, or ruin in the pursuit of something risky. An allusion to the mythical figure Icarus, whose father Daedalus constructed a set of wings out of feathers and wax that melted when he flew too close to the sun. He used to be one of the most successful financial advisers on Wall Street, but he singed his wings going after high-risk, high-profit investments that ultimately bankrupted him.
See also: singe, wing
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
singe your wings
suffer harm, especially in a risky attempt.See also: singe, wing
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- singe (one's) wings
- the kiss of death
- kiss of death
- kiss of death, a/the
- the mark of Cain
- strike out at (something or some place)
- hit (something) out of the (ball)park
- be at it hammer and tongs
- go at it tooth and nail
- hammer and tongs, go at it