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What does “play it safe” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
B2
To choose the safest, least risky option
“I'd rather play it safe than regret it later.”
From the B2 lesson Decisions, Decisions (making decisions).
Quick check
What does “play it safe” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“play it safe” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks B2 Pack 4 (Communication, Decisions and Habits).
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Related phrases
- make up your mindto finally decide something
- weigh up the optionsto think carefully about the different choices before deciding
- a tough calla difficult decision to make
- think it overto consider something carefully before deciding
- go with your gutto decide based on instinct rather than careful reasoning
- have second thoughtsto begin to doubt a decision you've already made
- narrow it downto reduce a large number of choices to a smaller number
- be torn between (two things)to find it very difficult to choose between two things
- take the plungeto finally decide to do something, especially something risky or big