erring on the side of caution
Choosing careful action
Erring on the side of caution means choosing the safer or more conservative option when facing uncertainty.
The phrase treats excessive caution as a minor error preferable to the alternative: When in doubt about the medication dosage, err on the side of caution and call the doctor.
The logic is that if you must make a mistake, make the one with smaller consequences.
- better safe than sorryPrudence over risk
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- wait and seeDefer until clarity comes
sleeping on it · risk aversion · belt and suspenders · insurance · contingency planning · foresight · hesitation · second-guessing · avoidance behavior · hazard assessment · damage control · perfectionism · incrementalism · cost-benefit analysis · overthinking · playing it safe · safety first · worst-case scenario
erring on the side of cautiontaking chances
throwing caution to the wind · taking risks · living dangerously · playing with fire · gambling
erring on the side of cautiondamn the torpedoes
Disregard peril, advance anyway
going all in · rushing in · impetuousness · precipitousness · imprudence
errors, erroneous, erroneously, errant, errancy, sidelong, sideways, caution, cautions