false move

Police said they had been following La Porta’s online activity, including financial movements, and waited for him to make a false move that could tip them off to his whereabouts.

“It could have ended in severe physical injury or death if they made a false move while this stop was going on,” Mr. Hampton said.

I can’t think about my job or how my body looks when I’m gripping the bar with all my strength, one false move away from hurtling to the mat.

Montgomery’s fibula snapped; in one fractional false move, Leno had broken his teammate’s leg.

And yet he knows: One false move would end all this.