to be on the safe side

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to be safe; to be cautious; [to do something just] in case it is necessary; to be very well prepared. To be on the safe side, carry some extra money in your shoe. I like to be on the safe side and stay in my hotel room at night.

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

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to a fine art
to a great extent
to a man
to a tee
to advantage
to all intents and purposes
to and fro
to be on the safe side
to be safe
to be said for
to be sneezed at
to beat the band
to begin with
to boot
to call own

To Be Nominated
To Be Numbered
To be of acquaintance
To be of opinion
To be off
To be off color
To be off one's food
To be off one's rocker
To be off the hinges
To be on a foundation
To be on edge
To be on foot
To be on her beam ends
To be on one's back
To be on short commons
To be on speaking terms

To be on the anvil
To be on the carpet
To be on the defensive
To be on the fence
To be on the mending hand
To be on the move
To be on the qui vive
To be on the rack
to be on the safe side
To be on the stretch
To be on the tenters
To be on the watch
To be one flesh
To be one's own man
To be one's own master
To be one's own mistress
To Be or Not to Be

To Be or Not to Be
To Be or Not to Be (1942 film)
To Be or Not to Be (1983 film)
To Be Or Not To Be (1983 movie)
To be or not to be (film)
To Be or Not to Be (seaQuest DSV episode)
To Be Or Not To Be That Is The Question
To Be Ordered
To be out at the heels
To be out of her reckoning
To be out of one's head
to be paid
To Be Perfectly Frank
To Be Perfectly Freaking Honest
To Be Perfectly Honest
To be pleased in

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