safe
adjective /seɪf/
/seɪf/
(comparative safer, superlative safest)
Idioms - [not before noun] protected from any danger, harm or loss
- The children are quite safe here.
- She didn't feel safe on her own.
- Will the car be safe parked in the road?
- safe from somebody/something They aimed to make the country safe from terrorist attacks.
- Nobody is safe from suspicion at the moment.
- Your secret is safe with me (= I will not tell anyone else).
- Here's your passport. Now keep it safe.
- We have been assured that our jobs are safe (= we are not in danger of losing them).
- I felt safe and secure here.
Extra Examples- Don't worry—he'll be all safe and snug in the barn.
- Keep your money safe by carrying it in an inside pocket.
- You should be safe enough, but don't go too far.
- I didn't feel safe in the house on my own.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- from
- with
- better safe than sorry
- play it safe
- play safe
- …
- not likely to lead to any physical harm or danger
- a safe and effective remedy for coughs and colds
- safe to do something Is the water here safe to drink?
- safe for somebody/something Acupuncture is safe for most people.
- safe for somebody to do something The street is not safe for children to play in.
- It is one of the safest cars in the world.
- Builders were called in to make the building safe.
- Many people are without safe drinking water.
Extra Examples- She claimed that nuclear power was the most environmentally safe form of energy.
- The army experts made the bomb safe.
- A safe and effective vaccine for the disease will soon be available.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- from
- with
- better safe than sorry
- play it safe
- play safe
- …
- not harmed, damaged, lost, etc.
- We were glad she let us know she was safe.
- The missing child was found safe and well.
- They turned up safe and sound.
- A reward was offered for the animal's safe return.
- Take care of yourselves and stay safe.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- from
- with
- better safe than sorry
- play it safe
- play safe
- …
- where somebody/something is not likely to be in danger or to be lost
- We all want to live in safer cities.
- Keep your passport in a safe place.
- We watched the explosion from a safe distance.
- It was a relatively safe place compared with other countries.
Extra Examples- The wood is never entirely safe for women on their own.
- a completely safe and secure environment for young children
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- from
- with
- better safe than sorry
- play it safe
- play safe
- …
- not involving much or any risk; not likely to be wrong or to upset somebody
- Electricity shares are still a safe investment.
- As I peruse the menu the only safe bet is the grilled chicken.
- The source of Harry's wealth was not a safe subject for public discussion.
- safe to do something It’s safe to assume (that) there will always be a demand for new software.
- It's safe to say there aren't any movies out there quite like this one.
- It would be safer to take more money with you in case of emergency.
- (disapproving) The show was well performed, but so safe and predictable.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- from
- with
- better safe than sorry
- play it safe
- play safe
- …
- [usually before noun] doing an activity in a careful way synonym careful
- a safe driver
- based on good evidence
- a safe verdict
- (British English, informal) used by young people to show that they approve of somebody/something
- I like him, he's safe.
- That kid's safe.
- (British English, informal) used by young people as a way of accepting something that is offered
- ‘You want some?’ ‘Yeah, safe.’
see also fail-safe
protected
without physical danger
not harmed/lost
place
without risk
person
law
approving
Word OriginMiddle English (as an adjective): from Old French sauf, from Latin salvus ‘uninjured’. The noun is from the verb save, later assimilated to the adjectival form.
Idioms
better safe than sorry
- (saying) used to say that it is wiser to be too careful than to act too quickly and do something you may later wish you had not
- She decided to avoid travelling at night. Better safe than sorry.
a good/safe/sure bet
- something that is likely to happen, to succeed or to be suitable
- He's a good bet to earn a spot on the US team.
- Clothes are a safe bet as a present for a teenager.
- The movie looks like a sure bet for Best Film.
in safe hands | in the safe hands of somebody
- being taken care of well by somebody
- I've left the kids in safe hands—with my parents.
- Their problem was in the safe hands of the experts.
on the safe side
- being especially careful; taking no risks
- I took some extra cash just to be on the safe side.
play (it) safe
- to be careful; to avoid risks
- Play safe—keep out of the sun in the middle of the day.
Extra Examples- I decided to play it safe and wore a formal suit.
- I decided to play safe and not let on I understood what they were saying.
(as) safe as houses
- (British English) very safeMore Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles in idioms
- (as) bald as a coot
- (as) blind as a bat
- (as) bright as a button
- (as) bold as brass
- as busy as a bee
- as clean as a whistle
- (as) dead as a/the dodo
- (as) deaf as a post
- (as) dull as ditchwater
- (as) fit as a fiddle
- as flat as a pancake
- (as) good as gold
- (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare
- (as) miserable/ugly as sin
- as old as the hills
- (as) pleased/proud as Punch
- as pretty as a picture
- (as) regular as clockwork
- (as) quick as a flash
- (as) safe as houses
- (as) sound as a bell
- (as) steady as a rock
- (as) thick as two short planks
- (as) tough as old boots
safe in the knowledge that
- confident because you know that something is true or will happen
- She went out safe in the knowledge that she looked fabulous.
a safe pair of hands
- (especially British English) a person that you can trust to do a job well
- Colleagues regard him as a safe pair of hands.