cover one's bases en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From the rules of baseball, where the defending team needs to assign an infielder to each of the three outward-facing bases.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely.
She eats a balanced diet, but takes vitamin pills anyway, to cover her bases.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| covered one's bases | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| covered one's bases | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| covering one's bases | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| covers one's bases | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| cover the bases | alternative | lexicographic | |
| cover all of one's bases | alternative | lexicographic | |
| cover all the bases | alternative | lexicographic |