(it's) better (to be) safe than sorry
idiom
—used to say that it is better to be careful now so that problems do not occur later on
It's probably not necessary to check the figures again, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Examples of (it's) better (to be) safe than sorry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This preponderance of non-urgent alarms reflects a ‘better safe than sorry’ philosophy to alarm signaling.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
So, for your well-being and pocketbook, better to be safe than sorry.
—USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024
No idea if this is true, but better safe than sorry.
—Ben Goggin, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2023
The odds that any college admissions officers would even look us up seemed slim, but, the thinking went: better safe than sorry.
—Michael Stillwell, Town & Country, 3 Aug. 2023
As recent high-profile breaches have taught us, new evidence can come to light weeks or months after the initial attack and investigation, so a better safe than sorry approach harms nobody.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
So, for your well-being and pocketbook, better to be safe than sorry.
—USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024
No idea if this is true, but better safe than sorry.
—Ben Goggin, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2023
The odds that any college admissions officers would even look us up seemed slim, but, the thinking went: better safe than sorry.
—Michael Stillwell, Town & Country, 3 Aug. 2023
As recent high-profile breaches have taught us, new evidence can come to light weeks or months after the initial attack and investigation, so a better safe than sorry approach harms nobody.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '(it's) better (to be) safe than sorry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near (it's) better (to be) safe than sorry
Cite this Entry
“(it's) better (to be) safe than sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%28it%27s%29%20better%20%28to%20be%29%20safe%20than%20sorry. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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