play it safe
idiom
: to be careful and avoid risk or danger
I decided to play it safe and leave early so that I would be sure to arrive on time.
Examples of play it safe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Following in the footsteps of Donatella, the diva herself, Vitale had some big stilettos to fill with a great deal to prove, and Vitale didn’t play it safe.
—
Ludwig Hurtado, Them., 29 Sep. 2025
Christian McCaffrey and that Niners run game will dominate Saints D and enable OK backup QB Mac Jones to play it safe.
—Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
However, Green Bay is going to play it safe and make 100 percent certain that his knee is good to go before throwing him out on the field.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Harsh chemicals like bleach and abrasive scrubbers like steel wool can ruin your hardware, so check the manufacturer’s instructions and stick to gentle cleansers to play it safe.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play it safe
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ludwig Hurtado, Them., 29 Sep. 2025
Christian McCaffrey and that Niners run game will dominate Saints D and enable OK backup QB Mac Jones to play it safe.
—Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
However, Green Bay is going to play it safe and make 100 percent certain that his knee is good to go before throwing him out on the field.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Harsh chemicals like bleach and abrasive scrubbers like steel wool can ruin your hardware, so check the manufacturer’s instructions and stick to gentle cleansers to play it safe.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play it safe
Cite this Entry
“Play it safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20it%20safe. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share