The Persian proverb to play with the tail of a lion is used informally to say that a certain situation is very dangerous. By saying it, we alert the listener that the act which they are about to do is likely to result in their death.
Example: Driving too rapidly in a busy road is like [playing with the tail of a lion.]
Is there a proverb that would express the same thing in English?
I have already heard the expression to play with fire, but it doesn't quite work because the Persian proverb has a bit of a chiding tone- the speaker wants both to alarm and ridicule the listener. The aim is to say that the act is at the same time dangerous and foolish.