How do you say “Go out on a limb” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is se mouiller, which literally means “to get oneself wet”. English speakers use go out on a limb to mean to risk criticism or failure by supporting someone or making a bold claim. An informal French match for committing yourself and taking a risk. It works well when someone could avoid giving an opinion. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
se mouiller
/sə muje/
- Literal meaning
- “to get oneself wet”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
89 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
“Je vais me mouiller” signals that you are willing to take a position. It can sound playful before a prediction.
The phrase can also suggest becoming personally involved in something risky. It does not carry the English tree-branch image.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
I went out on a limb and recommended her for the lead role.
French
Je me suis mouillé en la recommandant pour le rôle principal.
English
I’ll go out on a limb and say this tiny team will win the final.
French
Je vais me mouiller : cette petite équipe va gagner la finale.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-11-13