disaster waiting to happen

Questions

What does disaster waiting to happen mean?

Something potentially very dangerous or likely to fail.

Where does disaster waiting to happen come from?

Attested 1940s, apparently modeled after accident waiting to happen.

How to pronounce disaster waiting to happen

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “disaster waiting to happen”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “disaster waiting to happen”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “disaster waiting to happen” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.