cover all the/your bases

cover all bases

To be well-prepared for every possible outcome. We need to cover all bases here—check every office and make sure it's been evacuated. I know I don't have the best grades, so I covered all bases by applying to 15 colleges.

cover all the bases

To account for or provide a way to address every possible outcome, scenario, contingency, etc. We need to cover all the bases here—the investigation should explore every avenue. I covered all the bases by applying to 15 colleges.

cover all the/your ˈbases

(especially American English) consider and deal with all the things that could happen or could be needed when you are arranging something: Are you sure we covered all our bases on this? ♢ We cover all the bases from creating a market for your business through closing the sale.