err on the side of caution

[ er on thuh sahyd uhv kaw-shuhn, ur ]

idiom

1. to reduce risk by planning or acting more carefully than might seem absolutely necessary:

   Budget for all your known expenses, but err on the side of caution by also allowing funds for unforeseen circumstances.

   Sorry, but I removed your image from the thread—it’s probably not offensive, but I always err on the side of caution with such things.

Word History and Origins

Origin of err on the side of caution¹

First recorded in 1780–90