Mettre en péril vs. mettre en danger vs. compromettre
The French expressions 'mettre en péril', 'mettre en danger', and 'compromettre' all convey the idea of endangering or jeopardizing something, but they have subtle differences in usage and intensity.
Mettre en péril
This phrase means 'to put in peril' and is often used for more serious or grave situations, implying a high level of risk or threat.
La pollution met en péril la survie de nombreuses espèces.
(Pollution endangers the survival of many species.)
Son comportement irresponsable a mis en péril toute l'opération.
(His irresponsible behavior jeopardized the entire operation.)
Mettre en danger
This expression translates directly to 'put in danger' and is more general, used for a wide range of situations where safety or well-being is at risk.
Conduire en état d'ivresse met en danger la vie des autres.
(Drunk driving endangers the lives of others.)
Ne pas respecter les consignes de sécurité peut mettre en danger toute l'équipe.
(Not following safety instructions can endanger the entire team.)
Compromettre
This verb means 'to compromise' or 'to jeopardize' and is often used when referring to reputation, success, or chances of achieving something.
Cette erreur pourrait compromettre ses chances de promotion.
(This mistake could jeopardize his chances of promotion.)
Le scandale a compromis la réputation de l'entreprise.
(The scandal has compromised the company's reputation.)
Summary
While all three expressions relate to endangering or putting something at risk, 'mettre en péril' is used for more serious threats, 'mettre en danger' is more general and widely applicable, and 'compromettre' often refers to jeopardizing abstract concepts like reputation or chances of success.