# walk on the wild side

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/walk-on-the-wild-side
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An occasion or incident involving adventurous, risky, or morally questionable behavior.

## Examples

- He decided to walk on the wild side and quit his job.
- During their vacation in a foreign city, they decided to walk on the wild side and explore the dangerous parts of town.
- After years of living a predictable and cautious life, she felt a sudden, desperate urge to walk on the wild side and abandon her responsibilities for a night.

---

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.