hostage to fortune

Noun

hostage to fortune (plural hostages to fortune)

1. (UK) An action, promise, or remark that is considered unwise because it could be difficult to fulfil or could cause trouble later on.
   • He was very cautious with his words and gave no hostages to fortune.
   • He that hath VVife and Children, hath giuen Hoſtages to Fortune; For they are Impediments to great Enterpriſes, either of Vertue, or Miſchiefe. Certainly, the beſt vvorkes, and of greateſt Merit for the Publike, haue proceeded from the vnmarried, or Childleſſe Men; vvhich, both in Affection, and...1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Marriage and Single Life. VIII.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 36
2. (US) A person or thing whose fate is seen as dependent on chance or luck.
   • Once several good outfits are prepared, any one of which can attack a Japanese-held base or island and beat the life out of the garrison, all their islands will become hostages to fortune.1950 July, Winston S[pencer] Churchill, “The Shipping Strangehold”, in The Hinge of Fate (The Second World War), London; Toronto, Ont.: Cassell & Co., →OCLC, book I (The Onslaught of Japan), page 171
   • Too many [rail] companies are hostages to fortune by relying on RDW [rest day working] agreements to run their timetable.2022 November 2, Philip Haigh, “Comment: Rail strikes: no end in sight”, in Rail, number 969, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3