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danger of life and limb

English translation: death or injury

13:06 Oct 14, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / legal notes/ safety
English term or phrase: danger of life and limb
This expression is found quite often in the safety notes of technical manuals: according to some one the term "limb" is redundant just reinforcing the concept of "danger of life", according to other translators it refers to a possible mutilation beyond the risk of life... Any opinion/recommendation from English speaking colleagues?
Franco Mori
Italy
Local time: 17:16
Selected answer:death or injury
Explanation:
Danger to (usually "to" I think!) life = may lead to death
Danger to limb = may lead to injury

Selected response from:

William [Bill] Gray
Norway
Local time: 17:16
Grading comment
Thanks Bill for making it clear: I know that it is a sort of idiom, in italian we have a similar expression that says "to loose the skin" and means exactely to "loose the life" so never we say "to loose the life and the skin". Thanks a lot!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +10death or injury
William [Bill] Gray
3risk to life and limb
muitoprazer (X)


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +10
death or injury


Explanation:
Danger to (usually "to" I think!) life = may lead to death
Danger to limb = may lead to injury



William [Bill] Gray
Norway
Local time: 17:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks Bill for making it clear: I know that it is a sort of idiom, in italian we have a similar expression that says "to loose the skin" and means exactely to "loose the life" so never we say "to loose the life and the skin". Thanks a lot!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexander Demyanov
1 min
  -> Thank you, Alexander.
agree  Mark Nathan
2 mins
  -> Thank you, Mark.
agree  David Moore (X)
8 mins
  -> Thanks, David.
agree  Can Altinbay: Never thought about it, but the explanation sounds good. In any case, it's an expression and the two are always used together in my experience.
34 mins
  -> Thanks, Can. I hadn't really thought about it much either, so this was a good question!
agree  Louise Mawbey
50 mins
  -> Thanks, Louise.
agree  JaneTranslates
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Jane.
agree  Ken Cox: or 'risk of death or injury'. IMHO 'risk/danger to life and limb' is a literary formula and not particularly appropriate in safety instructions
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ken. Interesting comment.
agree  Suzan Hamer
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Suzan.
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Marju.
agree  Will Matter: The set phrase really means "Possibility of (either) death OR injury", both or either is possible.
11 hrs
  -> Thanks, Will.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
risk to life and limb


Explanation:
http://www.lifenlimb.co.uk/cancer.htmlhttp://www.lifenlimb.c...
risk to life =possibility of death resulting
risk to limb=possibility of injury.

muitoprazer (X)
Local time: 16:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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