To describe an action taken to avoid a negative outcome, use de peur de (for fear of) followed by an infinitive.
| The apprentice observes the glassblower for fear of missing the gesture. | L'apprenti observe le souffleur de peur de rater le geste. |
De crainte de
You can also use de crainte de. It means the exact same thing as de peur de and is also followed by an infinitive. Both are useful for describing delicate work—such as the art of glassblowing—where caution is essential.
| The glassblower delicately turns the glass for fear of shattering the bubble. | Le souffleur tourne délicatement le verre de crainte de briser la bulle. |
| He blows delicately into the tool for fear of shattering the incandescent bubble. | Il souffle délicatement dans l'outil de crainte de briser la bulle incandescente. |
Using Pronouns
If the infinitive requires a pronoun, such as a reflexive or a direct object, place it directly before the infinitive.
| Do not approach the incandescent oven for fear of burning yourself! | Ne t'approche pas du four incandescent de peur de te brûler ! |
| Our apprentice delicately works the crystal for fear of cracking it. | Notre apprenti travaille délicatement le cristal de crainte de le fissurer. |
| Who protected the bubble for fear of shattering it? | Qui a protégé la bulle de crainte de la briser ? |
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