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
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
The guest bathrooms ride the wave, ranging from stormy to serene, and none play it safe.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025
What makes this significant for Koh Samui is Thompson's refusal to play it safe.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play it safe
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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
The guest bathrooms ride the wave, ranging from stormy to serene, and none play it safe.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025
What makes this significant for Koh Samui is Thompson's refusal to play it safe.
—Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 1 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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