student asking question

What does "be way out on a limb" mean? When do you use it?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

To "be/go out on a limb" means to be in or go into a dangerous, vulnerable, risky, or uncertain situation. This does not necessarily mean in the physical, bodily sense. It can be in terms of work, relationships, and so on. It can also mean to make a guess about something. In this case, Chandler is saying "I may be way out on a limb here" to mean he may be making the wrong guess about Joey's opinion about Janice. You can understand it as, "I may be making the wrong guess here, but do you have a problem with Janice?" Ex: She is willing to go out on a limb (take a risk) and quit her job to start all over again. Ex: I might be out on a limb here, but is Joe your brother?

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