précipice
/pʁe.si.pis/noun★Intermediate
literary
A steep, high cliff or rock face, often associated with danger or a dramatic drop.
Le précipice était si profond qu'on ne voyait pas le fond.
The precipice was so deep that you couldn't see the bottom.
💡
Often used metaphorically to describe a dangerous or critical situation.
Collocations
au bord du précipiceon the edge of a clifftomber dans le précipiceto fall into the abyss
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
être au bord du précipicephrase
to be on the verge of disaster
💡Pro Tip
Metaphorical Use
In French, 'précipice' is often used metaphorically to describe a critical or dangerous situation, similar to 'on the brink' in English.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'precipice,' from Latin 'praecipitium,' meaning 'a headlong fall.'
📝Usage Notes
Can be used both literally to describe a physical cliff and metaphorically to describe a perilous situation.
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais