err on the side of
idiom
: to use or show more of (something) than may be needed so that one can be sure that he or she is using or showing enough of it
It's better to err on the side of generosity than to appear too stingy.
We chose to err on the side of caution when planning our investments.
Examples of err on the side of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Today, Oatly enjoys 50% recognition in the U.S. When contemplating a big spend, there will always be the temptation to err on the side of over-caution.
—
Tripp Westbrook, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Soft parents are also lenient, and may err on the side of ignoring difficult behaviors rather than dealing with them productively in the name of keeping the peace.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 12 Mar. 2025
Overall, the smart approach is to err on the side of balance.
—Julia Ranney, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Each failure and loss in China were met with fierce public backlash, and the pressure has likely led researchers to err on the side of caution in releasing more pandas, Huang said.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
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Tripp Westbrook, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Soft parents are also lenient, and may err on the side of ignoring difficult behaviors rather than dealing with them productively in the name of keeping the peace.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 12 Mar. 2025
Overall, the smart approach is to err on the side of balance.
—Julia Ranney, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Each failure and loss in China were met with fierce public backlash, and the pressure has likely led researchers to err on the side of caution in releasing more pandas, Huang said.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
Cite this Entry
“Err on the side of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err%20on%20the%20side%20of. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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