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

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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.
Or, play it safe and schedule an upholstery cleaning with the professionals. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025 If any of the above descriptions match the state of your gasoline, play it safe and dispose of it appropriately. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025 Mia agrees and advises her not to play it safe. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025 But with less margin for error than ever before, commissioners need to resist the temptation to play it safe, according to Larry Grimaldi, senior vice president of creative affairs and original movies at Fox Entertainment Studios. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for play it safe

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Cite this Entry

“Play it safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20it%20safe. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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