MicroEnglish.

Play safe
Idioms | B2

Listening exercises with “Play safe”

to play safe = to be cautious and minimise risks. e.g. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, but I still think we should play safe and see a doctor.

We can also say play it safe, e.g. I’m probably being overcautious but I’m going to play it safe and allow an extra hour to get to the airport in time.

There are many situations in which there is a risk of something bad happening (e.g. it might rain on your way to work). Some people are happy to take this risk (and not take an umbrella). Other people would prefer to play it safe (and take an umbrella).

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: North America

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, , .
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looks fine , I still should and take umbrella, .
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Accent: Ireland

80%
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, , .
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Tom doesn't think travel insurance, he should just .
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Accent: England (RP)

80%
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, – ?
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I'm about nothing, but why not go to the doctor – ?
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In

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12 responses

  1. Taty Scott Avatar
    Taty Scott

    Well I have to play safe all time with my job because the life and future of my patients rely completely on me,every detail is extremely important but when it comes to my life,honestly I tend to be impulsive and usually never play safe.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Great examples Tatiana, well done. It’s interesting that there is such a big difference between professional you and private you in terms of playing it safe!

      One small correction – it is ok to say ‘play safe’ but it sounds more natural to say ‘play it safe’, e.g. “I have to play it safe all the time…”. Think of it as a fixed expression.

      Reply
  2. idaro Avatar
    idaro

    I consider myself a cautious person but you never know what’s coming about. I usually play safe and back up my most important computer files, but my usual backup copy slipped my mind once and unfortunately the computer didn’t work next day. I lost some of the most recent files.

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Hi Ivan! Good example – how typical that your computer failed the one time you forgot to back up your files!

      It sounds more natural to say ‘play it safe’ rather than ‘play safe’, e.g. “I usually play it safe and back up my most important files”.

      To slip your mind is an excellent phrase to use – well done. You need to make a small change, because the thing that you forgot wasn’t your backup, but the action of making your backup. So you need to use the structure ‘to slip your mind to do sth’ and say “It slipped my mind to make my usual backup copy”. Does that make sense?

      Reply
  3. Aline Avatar
    Aline

    I usually play it safe, but I think this is because of my mother. She always makes me to be cautious. When I do a test, I always bring an extra pen with me, just in case the first one fail

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Thanks Aline!

      Careful with the verb pattern of ‘make’ in the second sentence. You need to use ‘to make sb do sth’, so your sentence should be: “she always makes me be cautious”.

      There is a little mistake in this sentence: “I always bring an extra pen with me, just in case the first one fail”. Can you find correct it?

      Reply
  4. Aline Avatar
    Aline

    Thank you for answering! About the sentence…. Would it be “I always bring an extra pen with me, just in case the first one failS”?

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Exactly, well done Aline 🙂

      Reply
  5. Marisela Avatar
    Marisela

    As I live in Bogota, the weather is quite unpredictable. When I started living here, I didn’t know that. I can think of a time when the sky was nice, blue and clear, so I took no umbrella at all.

    However, it poured down hours later, so I got completely wet, I even caught a nasty cold which cleared up after a couple of weeks. From then on, I always play it safe, and take my umbrella not matter what the day looks like. When some friends come around, they often make a fun of me because I go out nowhere without my umbrella. of course, I tell them I’d rather play it safe, just in case it rains.

    Reply

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