He took too many risks and flew too close to the sun.
fly too close to the sun
idiomTo become overly ambitious or greedy; to overreach oneself; to reach for something unattainable or unachievable.
Origin
disputed originIn reference to the Greek myth of Icarus, who fell into the sea and drowned after flying too close to the sun on wings made of wax and feathers, despite having been warned by his father, Daedalus, who gave him the wings.
By expanding his business into five countries at once, he flew too close to the sun and lost everything.
The young entrepreneur ignored all warnings about the market's instability, eventually flying too close to the sun and suffering a total professional collapse.
- 01
catch the sun
To sunbathe.
- 02
close enough for government work
Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
- 03
close in on
To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.
- 04
close on the heels of
Near in time or place; very close.
- 05
close one eye
to look the other way, to deliberately ignore or overlook (a mistake or transgression).
- 06
close one's eyes
To ignore something.
- 07
close one's mind
To refuse to understand things.
- 08
close season
A situation or period in which some activity is forbidden or discontinued.