err on the side of
idiom
: to use or show more of (something) than may be needed so that one can be sure that he or she is using or showing enough of it
It's better to err on the side of generosity than to appear too stingy.
We chose to err on the side of caution when planning our investments.
Examples of err on the side of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Still, the Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn decided to err on the side of caution with the 36-year-old QB, who is in his 15th NFL season.
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Josh Buckhalter, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
First, cozy gifts tend to err on the side of practical, so you’re guaranteed to give something your loved one will actual use.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2025
Soria’s approach is to take things slow and to err on the side of caution.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 6 Oct. 2025
When in doubt, err on the side of caution, says Morrow.
—Suzi Morales, Parents, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
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Josh Buckhalter, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
First, cozy gifts tend to err on the side of practical, so you’re guaranteed to give something your loved one will actual use.
—Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2025
Soria’s approach is to take things slow and to err on the side of caution.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 6 Oct. 2025
When in doubt, err on the side of caution, says Morrow.
—Suzi Morales, Parents, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err on the side of
Cite this Entry
“Err on the side of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err%20on%20the%20side%20of. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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