CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A standard for judging when freedom of speech can be abridged

Example:

no one has a right to shout 'fire' in a crowded theater when there is no fire because such an action would pose a clear and present danger to public safety

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("clear and present danger" is a kind of...):

danger (the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury)

Credits