How do you say “Go out on a limb” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is sich weit aus dem Fenster lehnen, which literally means “to lean far out of the window”. English speakers use go out on a limb to mean to risk criticism or failure by supporting someone or making a bold claim. A good German match for exposing yourself through a bold statement or commitment. It can suggest that you are going too far. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
sich weit aus dem Fenster lehnen
/zɪç vaɪt aʊs deːm ˈfɛnstɐ ˌleːnən/
- Literal meaning
- “to lean far out of the window”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
91 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
The window image fits a prediction made with limited evidence. It puts attention on how exposed the speaker will be if they are wrong.
It can also fit a strong recommendation. For simple support with little risk, “sich für jemanden einsetzen” is more neutral.
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.
German
Ich habe mich weit aus dem Fenster gelehnt und sie für die Hauptrolle empfohlen.
English
I’ll go out on a limb and say this tiny team will win the final.
German
Ich lehne mich jetzt weit aus dem Fenster und sage: Diese kleine Mannschaft gewinnt das Finale.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-11-13