for fear of

Also, for fear that. In order to avoid or prevent, in case of. For example, They closed all the windows for fear of rain. The variant is always used before a clause, as in She wouldn't let her children climb trees for fear that they would fall. The first term dates from the late 1400s, the second from about 1600.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He asked that his employer not be named for fear of drawing attention to their patient population.

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After June 6, when immigration agents launched a campaign in Los Angeles to find and capture undocumented immigrants, some residents have started to go underground, staying away from work, school, churches and other public venues for fear of being swept up in a raid.

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"Before, the guys might have been a wee bit tentative about who they went and asked questions to. For fear of people thinking they don't know their detail, didn't know stuff."

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The store’s owner, Vilma, who declined to give her last name for fear of being targeted by federal agents, said it had been that way since the raids began.

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The woman, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted by immigration officials, said her hours and pay had been cut amid the downturn, but rent still needed to be paid and groceries bought.

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Forfar forfeit

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