How to Use play it safe in a Sentence

play it safe

idiom
  • The Chiefs play it safe with a field goal to bring the score to 38-35 with just seconds left in the game.
    Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Most of the articles out there are about what not to do, and how to play it safe.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022
  • Half the golfers play it safe, while the others risk playing over the pines and water.
    Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2022
  • To play it safe or take a chance -- that's the question the universe is asking you.
    Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2023
  • Red wine and coffee drinkers may want to find a darker shade to play it safe.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2023
  • To start the second quarter, Tara VanDerveer didn’t play it safe.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024
  • However, Ohioans now have the option to play it safe or go big, knowing Barstool will aid them in the event of a loss.
    cleveland, 7 Jan. 2023
  • Word to the wise: these high-rise shorts run small and feature a non-stretch fabric, so play it safe by sizing up.
    Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 July 2023
  • The couple acknowledged that Hogsett tends to play it safe and doesn’t grab many headlines.
    Indystar Staff, The Indianapolis Star, 2 May 2023
  • The couple acknowledged that Hogsett tends to play it safe and doesn’t grab many headlines.
    Indystar Staff, The Indianapolis Star, 2 May 2023
  • Barnes stayed put though, unsure if the ball was going to bounce off the wall and electing to play it safe with only one out.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2022
  • People play it safe, looking for ways not to lose instead of playing to win.
    Ricky Muddimer, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
  • Coach Kelvin Sampson could play it safe this weekend and give Sasser some more rest.
    Dave Campbell, ajc, 15 Mar. 2023
  • With a gold medal in their back pockets, Shuster didn’t play it safe or get down on himself when things didn’t go well.
    Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2022
  • Attending an event like Paris Fashion Week is not the time for celebrities to play it safe with their outfits.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2022
  • Reading the details of the case, Siddhant remembered again why Dalits tend to play it safe.
    Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
  • The Dallas Cowboys are also expected to play it safe with Dak Prescott.
    Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2022
  • To play it safe, put money aside and try to diversify your income.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 6 July 2022
  • Where some would take that as an excuse to play it safe, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker see it as clearance to do the opposite.
    Charles Bramesco, Chron, 9 Feb. 2023
  • Tiff managed to convince Evvie and Liana to play it safe in case Xander had an immunity idol and put their votes on Voce.
    Joseph Longo, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2021
  • But last night’s decision by the CMAs to play it safe felt like a missed opportunity.
    Adam Gold, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2021
  • And if it's held anything spoiled, too hard to hand-wash or likely to contain harmful bacteria, play it safe and throw it out.
    Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2024
  • As always, play it safe and check the event’s website or social media before heading out.
    Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023
  • The recall election was not even close, but will Gov. Newsom start acting boldly or play it safe until 2022?
    Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Sep. 2021
  • These groups will continue, presumably, to play it safe.
    Roger Valdez, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
  • Other studios would play it safe by deciding to submit one song from a film so the votes don’t cancel each other out.
    Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2023
  • Count on executing a three-figure smackdown this time, Sonny Dykes, just to play it safe.
    Dallas News, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Players can play it safe by backing a favorite or pursue a much larger return via a player prop with longer odds.
    cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022
  • So while part of me saying 'play it safe, don’t go there yet' there’s another part of me, a more authentic part of me that’s saying 'This is happening.
    Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024
  • While the stars tend to play it safe for the bigger awards shows, smaller ceremonies give attendees the chance to experiment with their fashion.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'play it safe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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