- safe
- [[t]se͟ɪf[/t]]
♦♦safer, safest, safes1) ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf Something that is safe does not cause physical harm or danger.
Officials arrived to assess whether it is safe to bring emergency food supplies into the city...
Most foods that we eat are safe for birds.
...a safe and reliable birth control option.
...a programme to make Russian nuclear reactors safer.
Ant:2) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ from n If a person or thing is safe from something, they cannot be harmed or damaged by it.In the future people can go to a football match knowing that they are safe from hooliganism...
On beaches, keep your camera safe from sand by enveloping it inside a plastic bag...
Crime Prevention Officers can visit your home and suggest ways to make it safer.
Ant:at risk3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ If you are safe, you have not been harmed, or you are not in danger of being harmed.Where is Sophy? Is she safe?...
A baby boy is safe after rescue workers pulled him from a 12-foot-deep construction hole...
He kissed me twice and I realized suddenly that I felt warm and safe.
Derived words:4) ADJ-GRADED A safe place is one where it is unlikely that any harm, damage, or unpleasant things will happen to the people or things that are there.The continuing tension has prompted more than half the inhabitants of the refugee camp to flee to safer areas...
The elimination of all nuclear weapons would make the world a safer place...
We shall take the treasure away to a safe place.
Derived words:5) ADJ: ADJ n If people or things have a safe journey, they reach their destination without harm, damage, or unpleasant things happening to them.`I'm heading back to Ireland again for another weekend.' - `Have a safe journey.'
...the UN plan to deploy 500 troops to ensure the safe delivery of food and other supplies.
Derived words:safely ADV ADV with v, ADV advThe space shuttle returned safely today from a 10-day mission...
Once Mrs Armsby was safely home, she called the police again.
6) ADJ: ADJ n If you are at a safe distance from something or someone, you are far enough away from them to avoid any danger, harm, or unpleasant effects.I shall conceal myself at a safe distance from the battlefield...
He thinks he can find a way to vaccinate the elephants from a safe distance.
7) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If something you have or expect to obtain is safe, you cannot lose it or be prevented from having it.We as consumers need to feel confident that our jobs are safe before we will spend spare cash...
Is the National Health Service safe with the Conservative party?...
Rovers made the game safe with a spectacular second goal in the 84th minute.
Syn:8) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n, also it v-link ADJ to-inf A safe course of action is one in which there is very little risk of loss or failure.Electricity shares are still a safe investment...
It might not be safe politically for the President to leave the country.
Derived words:safely ADV usu ADV before vWe reveal only as much information as we can safely risk at a given time.
9) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you disapprove of something because you think it is not very exciting or original, you can describe it as safe....frustrated artists who became lawyers at an early age because it seemed a safe option...
Rock'n'roll has become so commercialised and safe since punk.
10) ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf If it is safe to say or assume something, you can say it with very little risk of being wrong.I think it is safe to say that very few students expend the effort to do quality work in school...
It is a safe assumption that modern terrorists are not suicidal, and will not be on board a bombed plane.
Derived words:safely ADV-GRADED ADV before vIf I go to a grocer I know and trust, I can safely assume the eggs will be fresh...
I think you can safely say she will not be appearing in another of my films.
11) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n If you say to someone that their secret is safe with you, you are promising not to tell it to anyone.Don't worry, Mr Palin, your secret is safe with me.
12) N-COUNT A safe is a strong metal cupboard with special locks, in which you keep money, jewellery, or other valuable things.The files are now in a safe to which only he has the key.
13) → See also safely14) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that a person or thing is in safe hands, or is safe in someone's hands, you mean that they are being looked after by a reliable person and will not be harmed.I had a huge responsibility to ensure these packets remained in safe hands...
Don't worry, Uncle Tim, your future is safe in our hands.
15) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that something or someone is as safe as houses, you mean that they are completely safe. [BRIT]The Government insisted that Britain's nuclear power stations are as safe as houses.
16) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If someone tries to make a place safe for a particular activity, they try to make the place suitable for that activity, although their efforts may have very undesirable effects.Why did these men fight and die? Supposedly it was to make the world safe for democracy.
17) PHRASE: V inflects If you play safe or play it safe, you do not take any risks.If you want to play safe, cut down on the amount of salt you eat...
The pilot decided that Christchurch was too far away, and played it safe and landed at Wellington.
18) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say you are doing something to be on the safe side, you mean that you are doing it in case something undesirable happens, even though this may be unnecessary.You might still want to go for an X-ray, however, just to be on the safe side.
19) PHRASE If you say `it's better to be safe than sorry', you are advising someone to take action in order to avoid possible unpleasant consequences later, even if this seems unnecessary.Don't be afraid to have this checked by a doctor - better safe than sorry!
20) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR You say that someone is safe and sound when they are still alive or unharmed after being in danger.All I'm hoping for is that wherever Trevor is he will come home safe and sound.
21) a safe pair of hands → see hands
English dictionary. 2008.
