play it safe

phrase

: 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

While Starship achieved the proper orbit, zipping along at 17,500 mph, flight controllers opted to play it safe and bring it back several hours sooner, after just a couple of laps. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026

While Starship achieved the proper orbit zipping along at 17,500 mph (28,000 kph), flight controllers opted to play it safe and bring it back several hours sooner, after just a couple of laps. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Who would come correct with a bitchy, sassy, screw-all-y’all response, and who would play it safe with a mild-mannered send-off? — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026

Small, independent houses may publish less or close altogether, narrowing the market, while larger publishers play it safe and lean on bestsellers. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for play it safe

• chafe
• waif
• unsafe
• vouchsafe