# lion's den

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lions-den
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Any dangerous or frightening place.

## Examples

- Going into that meeting felt like walking into a lion's den.
- You enter the lion's den when you argue with the angry manager.
- He feels like he is in a lion's den during the difficult exam.
- The young lawyer knew that entering the lion's den to face the aggressive judge would be the hardest part of her career.
- The reporter stepped into the lion's den when he visited the rival team's stadium to interview their most aggressive fans.
- After the mistake, the chef had to walk into the lion's den and explain the situation to the hungry, impatient customers.
- Despite his deep anxiety about the hostile board of directors, he steeled himself and stepped into the lion's den to defend his controversial proposal.

## Origin

The term originates from the biblical narrative recorded in chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel. The account describes the prophet Daniel being cast into a pit of captive lions as a capital punishment, an arrangement he survived when the animals remained inexplicably disinterested in his presence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.