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Explaining “Better safe than sorry”
Anwar Kareem 01/10/2024, 07:26English.me team member
What does it mean?
The phrase "Better safe than sorry" means that it is wiser to be cautious and take preventative measures to avoid potential problems than to be reckless and face the consequences later.
Tone
Cautionary
Origin
The phrase is believed to have origins dating back to the 12th century, with variations found in many languages. Its current form and usage became popular in English in the mid-20th century.
Examples of usage
- I know the weather looks fine, but I'm taking my umbrella, better safe than sorry.
- We decided to back up all our files before updating the software, better safe than sorry.
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