Tulip Fever
The tulip reached Holland in 1593 and was, at first, looked upon 
as an curiosity. There soon developed an irrational demand for new
species. Specimens sold at awesomely high prices. In their avarice, 
speculators bought and sold the same tulip ten times in one day.
The entire Dutch population suffered from the craze. There was an
insatiable desire for each new shape and color. At one point an man
purchased a house for three bulbs. Before long the inevitable crash
came and the demand for bulb quickly reached its nadir. A $1,500
bulb could be bought at $1.50. With the moribund tulip market came the
financial disasters to thousands of people.


out on a limb -- He went out on a limb and predicted he would win the election
by a wide margin.
(in a dangerous or exposed position.)