Devil-may-care

Thursday, 2023-8-3, Word of the Day: Devil-may-care

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WotD: Devil-may-care

Do you know someone a little reckless?

They don’t worry about the consequences or what other people think of them when they do things.

They do what they want and have fun.

Yeah, well, this person has what we can call a devil-may-care attitude.


Devil-may-care describes the attitude of someone adventurous, daring or careless in their actions, often disregarding the potential consequences.


The origins of this phrase date back to the 16th century, when it was used to describe soldiers or pirates willing to fight without fear or concern for their safety.

Today, the term is more commonly used to describe someone’s attitude toward life, particularly when taking risks or pushing boundaries.

So, how can you use it?

Well, here in Wakayama, we have many winding mountain roads.

You can use it to describe the attitude of drifters who come here with a devil-may-care approach and continue to drive at high speeds on the winding Wakayama mountain roads.

Then there are people like myself who travel the world, try new things, and never plan ahead.

Well, that was me before I got a degree, a wife, a house, a dog and a business.

I used to have a devil-may-care attitude toward life, but being foolhardy would not get me far nowadays.

While a devil-may-care attitude can be exciting and freeing, it is essential to recognize the potential consequences of our actions.

Being reckless can lead to dangerous situations and adverse outcomes.

This is not good if you have a wife or value your life.

Instead, finding a balance between taking risks and being responsible is important.

Doing so allows us to live life to the fullest without putting ourselves or others in unnecessary danger.


Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test

This post is understandable by someone with at least an 8th-grade education (age 13 – 14).  

On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 64.  

The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100. 


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