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  1. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › (it&(it's) better (to be) safe than sorry - Merriam-Webster

    Jan 14, 2024 · Definition. Example Sentences. Entries Near. Show more. Save Word. (it's) better (to be) safe than sorry. idiom. used to say that it is better to be careful now so that problems do not occur later on. It's probably not necessary to check the figures again, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

  2. idiomorigins.org › origin › better-safe-than-sorryIdiom Origins - Better safe than sorry - History of Better ...

    Origin of: Better safe than sorry. Better safe than sorry. Means exactly what it recommends, an English expression that has been around since the early 19th century and is first cited in Samuel Lover’s novel Rory O’More (1837).

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  4. knowyourphrase.com › better-safe-than-sorryBetter Safe Than Sorry - The Meaning and Origin of this Saying

    Meaning: The common phrase better safe than sorry means that it is better to choose the safer option than the riskier one, because if you decide to go with the risky option, then you may later regret it. Example: Dale was about to go on a bike ride with his friend, but he did not want to wear a helmet because he thought it made him look silly.

  5. writingexplained.org › idiom-dictionary › betterWhat Does Better Safe Than Sorry Mean? - Writing Explained

    • Better Safe Than Sorry Meaning
    • Origin of Better Safe Than Sorry
    • Examples of Better Safe Than Sorry
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    • Summary

    Definition: Be cautious so that you do not make a mistake you will later regret. To be better safe than sorryis to be cautious or prepared so that you do not later make a mistake. People who are better safe than sorryarrange and organize ahead of time so that they do not have to face negative consequences in the future. This may mean they are physi...

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    The phrase better safe than sorry has been attributed to two different authors. It was first used in the texts Rory O’More and Murder at the Hunting Club. There are also many variations of this phrase, including, 1. better be safe than sorry 2. you better be safe, or you’ll be sorry 3. better sensible than sorry In fact, the phrase better sensible ...

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    People say better safe than sorryin order to spur others to make sensible choices. For example, someone might say better safe than sorry when buckling the seatbelt in a car, which will prevent him from potentially being sorryif he were to get in a car accident. This phrase can also describe preventing negative outcomes unrelated to physical safety....

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    “Boaters [will be] better safe than sorry [when new laws are passed]” –Houston Chronicle
    “Food Allergies: Better Safe Than Sorry”–Washington Post

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    The phrase better safe than sorry describes why taking precautions now is better than making mistakes later.

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  6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryBETTER SAFE THAN SORRY definition - Cambridge Dictionary

    BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY definition | Cambridge English Dictionary. Meaning of better safe than sorry in English. better safe than sorry. idiom saying. Add to word list Add to word list. said when you think it is best not to take risks even when it seems boring or difficult to be careful. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples. avoiding risk.

  7. www.usingenglish.com › reference › idioms'Better Safe Than Sorry' Meaning - UsingEnglish.com

    What does the saying 'Better safe than sorry' mean? Idiom: Better safe than sorry. Meaning: This idiom is used to recommend being cautious rather than taking a risk. Country: International English | Subject Area: General | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used. Contributor: Richard Flynn.

  8. idioms.thefreedictionary.com › better+safe+than+sorryBetter safe than sorry - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

    or. it's better to be safe than sorry. COMMON People say better safe than sorry or it's better to be safe than sorry to mean that it is good to be careful, even if it may not seem necessary, in order to avoid problems. I think you should stay in hospital another day or two — better safe than sorry, right?