put one's ass on the line
To take a big risk.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He put his ass on the line to help me.”
“She put her ass on the line by criticizing the manager during the meeting.”
“By whistleblowing on the company's illegal practices, the employee knowingly put his ass on the line to ensure the truth came to light.”
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026