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safety

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safety valve

An activity that one does to release strong feelings (such as stress) in a healthy or positive way. Golf has become my safety valve—when I'm really stressed about work, I make sure to schedule a tee time.

See also: safety, valve

safety in numbers

safety achieved by being concealed in or united with large numbers of people or other creatures. We stayed close together, thinking that there was safety in numbers. The elderly people went out together for a walk, knowing that there was safety in numbers.

See also: number, safety

There is safety in numbers.

Prov. A group of people is less likely to be attacked than a single person. Gail never went out after dark without at least three friends, since she knew that there is safety in numbers. We should gather together a group of people to make our complaint to the boss. There's safety in numbers.

See also: number, safety

(there is) safety in numbers

being in a group reduces risk We stuck together because we were new in the city and felt there was safety in numbers.

See also: number, safety

a safety net

a system or arrangement that helps you if you have problems, especially financial problems (often + for ) The hardship fund provides a safety net for students who run out of money before they've completed their course.

See also: net, safety

a safety valve

a way of allowing someone to express strong or negative emotions without harming other people (often + for ) I often think football acts as a safety valve for a lot of stored-up male aggression.

See also: safety, valve

There's safety in numbers.

something that you say which means if people do something difficult or unpleasant together, they are less likely to get harmed or blamed Working on the principle that there's safety in numbers, we decided we should all go and complain together.

See also: number, safety

safety in numbers, there's

A group has more protection against harm than an individual, as in Her parents won't allow her to date but do let her go to parties, saying there's safety in numbers . This phrase comes from the Latin proverb, Defendit numerus, presumably alluding to a military situation. It was first recorded in English about 1550.

See also: safety