Hi Momo, Again, I think Erik and Wozitoya have got the definition of "risk" spot on. I think the reason you would not want to actually use "risk" in this sentence is because it has no dramatic effect. English writing is littered with this type of comparison. " He braved the fires of Hell to reach Paradise" . " The hero faced utter damnation or complete salvation..." As a general rule, you want to compare and contrast things, showing the reader the ultimate risks and rewards of a given path of action. That way you can engage the reader and keep them interested. Nobody wants to hear about "risk", it is much more interesting to hear about "ruin"! :) Another word to describe this method might be "hyperbole". Hope that helps, Matt

a. risk risk - chance of something going wrong: the danger that injury, damage, or loss will occur - hazard: somebody or something likely to cause injury, damage, or loss - chance of loss to insurer: the probability of loss to an insurer, or the amount that an insurer is in danger of losing - possibility of investment...

The word "risk" means "possibility of harm or loss". Since the sentence already has the word "possibility", the word risk is redundant (it would be saying the same idea twice). So "ruin" is the only one that works.