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
Early in Alonso’s reign, bettors might be more inclined to play it safe, avoiding high-risk punts until his managerial tendencies and matchday patterns become more predictable.
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Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Students who abide by halal rules tend to choose vegetarian meals or seafood to play it safe.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
The tendency for a lot of defensemen – either rookie or veteran – is to play it safe, skate backward and keep the play in front, Murphy added.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
This desire to play it safe reduces the likelihood of major scientific breakthroughs that could solve challenges.
—Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play it safe
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Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Students who abide by halal rules tend to choose vegetarian meals or seafood to play it safe.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
The tendency for a lot of defensemen – either rookie or veteran – is to play it safe, skate backward and keep the play in front, Murphy added.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
This desire to play it safe reduces the likelihood of major scientific breakthroughs that could solve challenges.
—Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 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 25 May. 2025.
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