clear and present danger

The standard set by the Supreme Court for judging when freedom of speech may lawfully be limited. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., illustrated the point by arguing that no one has a constitutional right to shout “Fire!” in a crowded theater when no fire is present, for such action would pose a “clear and present danger” to public safety. (See First Amendment (see also First Amendment).)

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.”

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Barabak: I agree with all you say about a clear and present danger.

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The site is facing two lawsuits in the US - one over the death of a teenager - and has been branded a "clear and present danger" to young people.

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Two families are suing Character.ai arguing the chatbot "poses a clear and present danger" to young people, including by "actively promoting violence."

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Nobody at Celtic will need any telling about Leipzig's clear and present danger.

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clearance clear as a bell

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