上述词组均有即将来临的危险的含义。其中，imminent danger (紧急危险）在刑法中主要适用于对防卫过当的辩护中，指被告感到对自己的人身伤害危险即将发生而无法求助他人或获得法律保护，只能马上予以自卫[1]。imminent peril (紧迫危险） 主要用于“人道主义原则”（humanitarian doctrine)中，指在交通事故中，如果原告，即受害的步行者能证明在事故发生前其正处于“急迫危险”（immediate danger)中，而被告，即机动车驾驶员本应该能在最后时刻避免事故发生，原告则可免于任何混合过失之原则[2]。immediate danger (急迫危险）除主要用于交通事故中外，也可用在刑法上的自卫中，指即将发生的危险 (此时其等同 imminent danger)[3]。

[1]“In relation to homicide in self-defense, this term means immediate danger, such as must be instantly met, such as cannot be guarded against by calling for the assistance of others or the protection of the law. Or, as otherwise defined, such as an appearance of threatened and impending injury as would put a reasonable and prudent man to his instant defense. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 515，West Publishing Co. (1991).

[2]“That position of danger to the plaintiff in which, if the existing circumstances remain unchanged, injury to him is reasonably certain. Id. at p. 515.

[3]“A definition that contemplates that there be some inexorable circumstance, situation or agency bearing down on plaintiff with reasonable probability of danger prior to negligence act of defendant. Id. at p. 514.