[johnsea]

`git checkout --help` gives

       git checkout [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...
           Overwrite paths in the working tree by replacing with the contents
           in the index or in the <tree-ish> (most often a commit). When a
           <tree-ish> is given, the paths that match the <pathspec> are
           updated both in the index and in the working tree.

As 'widget' is a path (and not a branchname as most often), local changes will be overwritten. Together with `git reset --hard` this is a bit a dangerous operation. I must say, that I don't fully understand the help text and just remember that `git checkout <path>` throws away my local uncommitted changes.

[mehrdadn]

Also note that 'widget' could've also easily been a typo for a branch (maybe they meant 'widgets' or something). Meaning that even if you only stick to uses of git checkout for branches, you're not safe (unless you're infallible).