abundance of caution

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Extra care taken as a precaution, even though the risk is small or not certain to exist.

   Grammar: Almost always follows out of: out of an abundance of caution.

   Patterns

   • out of an abundance of caution

   The school closed early out of an abundance of caution, although the storm turned north.

   Out of an abundance of caution, the airline checked every plane of that model.

   We replaced the smoke detectors out of an abundance of caution, even though none had failed.

Common combinations

out of an abundance of caution

The mall was evacuated out of an abundance of caution after the alarm sounded.

act with an abundance of caution

Doctors acted with an abundance of caution when the symptoms first appeared.

an abundance of caution approach

The council took an abundance of caution approach and delayed the event.

cancel out of an abundance of caution

The festival organizers cancelled the fireworks out of an abundance of caution.

recall out of an abundance of caution

The company recalled the batch out of an abundance of caution.

Synonyms and how they differ

as a precaution

This is shorter and more general; it does not stress that the danger is only a remote possibility.

to be on the safe side

This is casual and spoken, while abundance of caution sounds official.

as a safeguard

This names a protective step itself rather than the attitude behind it.

prudence

This is a single noun for careful judgment, not a ready-made explanation for an action.

Opposites

Word family

abundance noun

a very large quantity of something

abundant adjective

existing in large amounts

cautious adjective

careful to avoid risk

caution noun

care taken to avoid danger

Commonly confused: abundance of caution or overcaution?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “abundance of caution”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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