err on the side of caution en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) To act in the least risky manner in a situation in which one is uncertain about the consequences.
They are all zealous to the last degree in support of the extreme policy. . . . They certainly will not err on the side of caution.
1867 January 15, “The Impeachment of the President—Probabilities and Possibilities”, in New York Times, page 4:In any uncertain situation, government tends to err on the side of caution and delay.
1976 Oct. 29, James J. Kilpatrick, "Bureaucracy Infects Drug Industry," St. Petersburg Independent/Washington Star Syndicate, p. 23-A (retrieved 1 Oct 2008)But many savers are more concerned with the safety of their deposits and are even spreading their money over several institutions to err on the side of caution.
2008 September 17, Kara Gammell, “Cash in on the high interest rates”, in The Telegraph, UK, retrieved 01 Oct 2008:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| erred on the side of caution | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| erred on the side of caution | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| errs on the side of caution | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| erring on the side of caution | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
err on the side of · abundance of caution · better safe than sorry · on the safe side · give the benefit of the doubt
Translations (15)
az ehtiyatlı olmaq (to act in the least risky manner) · fi olla ottamatta turhia riskejä (to act in the least risky manner) · nb prekavere seg (to act in the least risky manner) · pl zachować ostrożność (to act in the least risky manner) · fr pécher par excès de prudence (to act in the least risky manner) · nb ta sine forholdsregler (to act in the least risky manner) · nl het zekere voor het onzekere nemen (to act in the least risky manner) · fi olla varovainen (to act in the least risky manner) · sv ta det säkra före det osäkra (to act in the least risky manner) · fi olla ylivarovainen (to act in the least risky manner) · ar تأخذ بأسباب الحيطة والحذر (to act in the least risky manner) · az ehtiyatkaranə davranmaq (to act in the least risky manner) · ar تتوخى الحيطة والحذر (to act in the least risky manner) · az ehtiyatla iş görmək (to act in the least risky manner) · pl zachowywać ostrożność (to act in the least risky manner)