err on the side of
idiom
: to use or show more of (something) than may be needed so that one can be sure that he or she is using or showing enough of it
It's better to err on the side of generosity than to appear too stingy.
We chose to err on the side of caution when planning our investments.
Examples of err on the side of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
—
Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
Some people may never feel the effects, but flight attendants who’ve seen the tanks up close tend to err on the side of caution.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Best cocktail maxidresses When dress codes fall into the vague space between cocktail and black-tie, always err on the side of caution.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
Even so, Fed analysts and traders predict the bank will err on the side of supporting the economy with another tumultuous year ahead.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
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Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
Some people may never feel the effects, but flight attendants who’ve seen the tanks up close tend to err on the side of caution.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Best cocktail maxidresses When dress codes fall into the vague space between cocktail and black-tie, always err on the side of caution.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
Even so, Fed analysts and traders predict the bank will err on the side of supporting the economy with another tumultuous year ahead.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
Cite this Entry
“Err on the side of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err%20on%20the%20side%20of. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
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