just to be on the safe side
Meaning: As an extra precaution, even if it is probably unnecessary.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The forecast says sun, but I'm packing an umbrella just to be on the safe side.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: "On the safe side" is recorded from the 18th century, with the image of staying on the side of a line where no harm can come.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Par acquit de conscience — literally: By acquittal of conscience
More idioms — Daily Life
- perfidious Albion — A mocking name for England or Britain as treacherous and untrustworthy.
- the be-all and end-all — The most important thing, or the only thing that matters.
- year in, year out — Continually, every year without change.
- sign one's own death warrant — To do something that will cause one's own ruin.
- child's play — Something very easy to do.
- at death's door — Very close to dying, or feeling extremely ill.
More English idioms
- the die is cast — A decision has been made and cannot be undone.
- sell one's soul to the devil — To give up one's principles in exchange for money, power or success.
- eat humble pie — To admit one was wrong and apologize humbly.
- play devil's advocate — To argue against something, not out of belief, but to test the argument.
- every which way — In all directions, in disorder.
- a Tower of Babel — A noisy scene where many people speak different languages, or a confusion of voices.
From our tongue twisters
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- Red lorry, yellow lorry. — The 'l/r' alternation drill — deceptively short, yet almost impossible to say fast withou…
- How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? — A 'w/ch/ck' drill that accelerates comically — and nobody really knows the answer.