an accident waiting for somewhere to happen

[tufguy]

Do you know anyone who is “an accident waiting for somewhere to happen”?

What does it mean? I read it on ESL discussion conversation.

 

[emsr2d2]

It means that it seems that someone is so likely to cause an accident or have an accident that it's only a matter of time before one happens. It almost seems like they're just waiting for the perfect place to have/cause that accident.

Please post a link to the conversation.

 

[Rover_KE]

I'm more familiar with '... like an accident looking for somewhere to happen'.

 

[Amigos4]

I prefer to keep it simple: “He’s an accident waiting to happen!” Reference The ‘somewhere’ really doesn’t matter.