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
Especially for those of us from minority communities, where we’re often told to play it safe, or where the luxury of dreaming freely isn’t always available.
—
Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Businesses will continue to play it safe, focusing primarily on product and price—each company will need to decide which of the two to prioritize.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 22 May 2025
Then there’s the tendency to play it safe with drinks.
—Jesse Scott, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
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.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for play it safe
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Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Businesses will continue to play it safe, focusing primarily on product and price—each company will need to decide which of the two to prioritize.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 22 May 2025
Then there’s the tendency to play it safe with drinks.
—Jesse Scott, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
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.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 13 May 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 6 Jun. 2025.
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