structure · formal

for fear of + V-ing

Band 7+task2speaking

because one is afraid that something might happen; used to show motive based on fear

Examples

“She avoided walking alone at night for fear of being attacked.”

“They kept quiet for fear of upsetting their boss.”

“The decision was postponed for fear of public backlash.”

Band 8 sentence

“Critics remained silent for fear of jeopardising their careers in a highly politicised environment.”

Collocations

  • for fear of being/causing
  • for fear of reprisals

Word family

fear n/vfearful adj

Common mistakes

for fear to + V→for fear of + V-ing

for fear that + V-ing→for fear of + V-ing

Say it for a higher band

5for fear to do→6for fear + to do→7+for fear of + V-ing

Synonyms

for fear that + clause

lest + should

Easily confused

for fear that

“They left early for fear that they would miss the train.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

Learn it with its set