err on the side of (something)
(redirected from erred on the side of)err on the side of (something)
To prioritize something, perhaps excessively or unnecessarily. Often used in the phrase "err on the side of caution." I like to err on the side of caution and always keep some money in my savings account.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
err on the side of
act with a specified bias towards something. 1999 Nature Der Sündefall's message may err on the side of alarmism, but it certainly is a good read.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
err on the side of something
show slightly too much rather than too little of a quality, especially a good one: When I am marking exam papers, I always try to err on the side of generosity (= I give slightly higher marks than the students may deserve). Err is an old-fashioned word meaning ‘make a mistake’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017