Instead of risking everything, he decided to play it safe and invest in a stable business.
word origin — An early 1900s expression from gambling and sports — choosing the option with the lowest possible risk.
play it safe, kick the bucket, pull some strings, be on the same wavelength, throw your weight around: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 63. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
play it safe · idiom/pleɪ ɪt seɪf/
to avoid taking risks
Instead of risking everything, he decided to play it safe and invest in a stable business.
Origin: An early 1900s expression from gambling and sports — choosing the option with the lowest possible risk.
kick the bucket · idiom/kɪk ðə ˈbʌkɪt/
to die (informal and humorous)
Our old neighbor finally kicked the bucket last week at the age of 95.
Origin: From the 1700s — one theory says hanged people kicked away the bucket they stood on, ending their lives.
pull some strings · idiom/pʊl sʌm strɪŋz/
to use personal influence to get something done
He didn’t have the right qualifications, but his uncle pulled some strings and got him the job.
Origin: From puppetry — invisible strings let a puppet master control everything happening above the stage.
be on the same wavelength · idiom/bi ɔn ðə seɪm ˈweɪvˌlɛŋθ/
to think in a similar way or understand each other well
We don’t need to explain things twice to each other—we’re always on the same wavelength.
Origin: From early radio in the 1900s — two stations on the same wavelength communicated cleanly without interference.
throw your weight around · idiom/θroʊ jʊr weɪt əˈraʊnd/
to use authority or influence in a forceful or bossy way
Ever since he became manager, he’s been throwing his weight around and acting superior to everyone.
Origin: From the 1800s — heavy people physically take up more space, used as a metaphor for forceful authority.