cover all bases

cover all bases

To be well-prepared for every possible outcome. We need to cover all bases here—check every office and make sure it's been evacuated. I know I don't have the best grades, so I covered all bases by applying to 15 colleges.
See also: all, bases, cover
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cover all the/your ˈbases

(especially American English) consider and deal with all the things that could happen or could be needed when you are arranging something: Are you sure we covered all our bases on this? We cover all the bases from creating a market for your business through closing the sale.
See also: all, bases, cover
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • cover all the/your bases
  • explore every avenue
  • explore every avenue, to
  • every which way
  • every which where
  • every single one
  • every other
  • nook and cranny
  • nook or cranny
  • nooks and crannies
References in periodicals archive
"The boys try to cover all bases in practice - Jofra and Woody bowled flat-out this morning"
SPEED KINGS WOOD AND ARCHER TO SPOOK PAKISTAN
Considering that search advertising is still the company's main source of revenue, it would be careless for Google not to cover all bases.
The Numbers Behind Google's Online Empire
you know, cover all bases Helen Louise Murphy Follow us on Twitter @WalesOnline
Word on the web Model's dismay by tattoo celebrating Lostprophets song after Ian Watkins exposed as paedophile
In this day and age you have to cover all bases. I could get on the bike but I'm not massively proficient."
PC GETS VERY PC; Officer won't sit on bike.. he hasn't passed his test
Widely regarded as one of the best spinners in the world, his eclectic tastes cover all bases from deep house to Detroit techno, and drum and bass to jazz.
Taste of France; Clubs
"They are trying to cover all bases really: making sure he is involved if they go through to the play-offs, that they cover those particular games.
Football: Star's transfer a done deal - boss; VILLA NEWS
The difference with D&E Holdings is that they cover all bases for their investors.
Two 14-year-olds destined to make it in New York
I said I found this hard to swallow but, to cover all bases, told you: "If it happens, you read it here first." And here's the evidence.
TRUE (NORWEGIAN) BLUE; Paddy Shennan goes behind the headlines
Cover all bases when job hunting through a recruiter
Scouting employment in the major leagues
To cover all bases, it has Democrats Like Lloyd Cutler and Republicans like C.
Who's Who
HR's defense of this boring spiel is that legally they must cover all bases. That means telling new recruits that they are "workers at will" is important.
Is Your Orientation Program An Adhesive or A Solvent?
Three dominant business models were identified for telecomms companies of the future, including the 'Dominate a piece of the business' company, the 'cover all bases' company and the 'solution provider' company.
Alliances are key for telecomms survival claims new study
Koditschek tries to cover all bases, while simultaneously grappling with major theoretical issues in social history.
Class Formation and Urban Industrial Society: Bradford, 1750-1850