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
Green had missed Sunday’s game with a sore back, and after an uber-physical matchup against DeAndre Jordan, Derik Queen and the bulky Pelicans on Tuesday, the coaching staff decided to play it safe.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
My guess is Arpino would have rather seen dancers push to the edge and miss than play it safe.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Check the manufacturer’s directions before loading (because some types cannot be washed even on a dishwasher’s delicate cycle), or play it safe and hand-wash.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
The publication and its contributors have strong reasons to play it safe, which is not an optimal condition for lively criticism.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for play it safe
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Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
My guess is Arpino would have rather seen dancers push to the edge and miss than play it safe.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Check the manufacturer’s directions before loading (because some types cannot be washed even on a dishwasher’s delicate cycle), or play it safe and hand-wash.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
The publication and its contributors have strong reasons to play it safe, which is not an optimal condition for lively criticism.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
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 1 Mar. 2026.
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