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to be on the safe side

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if you do something to be on the safe side, you do something that may not be necessary in order to protect yourself against possible problems. I don't think there are any broken bones, but you should have an X-ray just to be on the safe side.

See also: safe, side

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? References in classic literature
Fagin looked so very much in earnest, that Charley Bates, who deemed it prudent in all cases to be on the safe side, and who conceived it by no means improbable that it might be his turn to be throttled second, dropped upon his knees, and raised a loud, well-sustained, and continuous roar--something between a mad bull and a speaking trumpet. Oliver Twist Or The Parish Boy's Progress by Dickens, Charles View in context --Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could say any thing, after taking a chair. Sense and Sensibility by Austen, Jane View in context "'Guess it's best to be on the safe side," he murmured at last. Captains Courageous by Kipling, Rudyard View in context More results

References in classic literature

Fagin looked so very much in earnest, that Charley Bates, who deemed it prudent in all cases to be on the safe side, and who conceived it by no means improbable that it might be his turn to be throttled second, dropped upon his knees, and raised a loud, well-sustained, and continuous roar--something between a mad bull and a speaking trumpet.

Oliver Twist Or The Parish Boy's Progress by Dickens, Charles View in context

--Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but determining to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could say any thing, after taking a chair.

Sense and Sensibility by Austen, Jane View in context

"'Guess it's best to be on the safe side," he murmured at last.

Captains Courageous by Kipling, Rudyard View in context

More results

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to a fault
to a fine art
to a man
to a tee
to advantage
to all intents and purposes
to and fro

to be on the safe side
to be said for
to be sneezed/sniffed at
to begin with
to boot
to call own
to cap it all
to cap/crown/top it all

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