err

err on the right side

To avoid making a seriously troublesome mistake. I made a few mistakes in my essay, but at least I managed to err on the right side.
See also: err, on, right, side

err on the side of (something)

To prioritize something, perhaps excessively or unnecessarily. Often used in the phrase "err on the side of caution." I like to err on the side of caution and always keep some money in my savings account.
See also: err, of, on, side

err on the side of caution

To avoid risky or irresponsible behavior; to be very cautious. I like to err on the side of caution and always keep some money in my savings account. Since we don't know where we're going, let's err on the side of caution and leave an hour early.
See also: caution, err, of, on, side

out of an abundance of caution

In an earnest attempt to ensure that any potential danger, risks, or problems are avoided. Out of an abundance of caution, I always make sure I have enough money to cover six months' worth of expenses in my savings account, in case anything ever happened to my job. We believe that the allergic reaction was specific to that patient's genetic makeup, but we've also temporarily stopped administering the drug at that dose out of an abundance of caution.
See also: caution, of, out

to err is human (to forgive is divine)

proverb Being fallible and making mistakes is inherent to being a human, and forgiving such mistakes is a transcendent act. I know you're mad at your brother because he lied, but to err is human, you know. To forgive is divine.
See also: err, forgive, human
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

To err is human(, to forgive divine).

Prov. You should not be too harsh with someone who makes a mistake, because all human beings make mistakes. (Often used as a roundabout way to ask someone to forgive you for making a mistake.) Jill: How could you let my dog get out when I told you a hundred times that he should stay in the house! Ellen: To err is human, to forgive divine.
See also: err, human
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

err on the side of caution

COMMON If you err on the side of caution, you decide to act in a careful way, rather than take risks. It is better on your first few weights sessions to err on the side of caution, and start with a weight which is lighter than you think you can handle. Note: People use other words instead of caution, according to the subject they are discussing. When I discussed the matter with ministers in July I said that we should err on the side of generosity.
See also: caution, err, of, on, side

to err is human

People say to err is human to mean that it is natural for human beings to make mistakes. To err is human, and nobody likes a perfect person. Note: People sometimes use the whole expression to err is human, to forgive divine to mean that it is a very good thing to be able to forgive someone who does something wrong. Everyone admires her behaviour — after all, to err is human, to forgive divine. Note: This expression comes from an essay by Alexander Pope.
See also: err, human
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

err on the right side

act so that the most likely mistake to be made is the least harmful one.
See also: err, on, right, side

err on the side of

act with a specified bias towards something.
1999 Nature Der Sündefall's message may err on the side of alarmism, but it certainly is a good read.
See also: err, of, on, side

to err is human, to forgive divine

it is human nature to make mistakes yourself while finding it hard to forgive others. proverb
See also: divine, err, forgive
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

err on the side of something

show slightly too much rather than too little of a quality, especially a good one: When I am marking exam papers, I always try to err on the side of generosity (= I give slightly higher marks than the students may deserve).
Err is an old-fashioned word meaning ‘make a mistake’.
See also: err, of, on, side, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • err on the right side
  • err on the side of
  • err on the side of (something)
  • err on the side of something
  • out of an abundance of caution
  • err on the side of caution
  • get (someone) out of a fix
  • tiptoe around (someone or something)
  • be in a pickle
  • get into a fix
References in periodicals archive
These studies have shown that in U2OS-ER[alpha] cells a weak but significant activation of the ER[alpha] with ERr 731[R], desoxyrhapontigenin and resveratrol was detectable.
Subtype-specific activation of estrogen receptors by a special extract of Rheum rhaponticum (ERr 731[R]), its aglycones and structurally related compounds in U2OS human osteosarcoma cells
K err was heavily criticised by sections of the Irish media after Ireland's lacklustre performance during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Cyprus in Nicosia.
SPORTS BETTING: FOOTBALL: It's now or never for Kerr's Ireland; And Zidane reckons they have the measure of Swiss
(2) Shifts from time deposits to demand deposits at member banks will increase the ERR, since the reserve requirement on demand deposits was at least twice as high as that on time deposits.
BACK TO BASICS: RESERVE REQUIREMENTS AND MONEY STOCK CHANGES, 1929-1936
"We will have to do that, but in my case, from the philosophical viewpoint that you have to err on the side of freedom."
Cautious Hague stresses value of free press
(2009) found that the ERR per sievert was positive for 19 types of cancer and negative for 10.
DNA damage after continuous irradiation: Yanch and Engelward respond
No bona fide sale: The court also found that the Tax Court did not err in determining that the transfer to the FLP was not a bona fide sale, even though the IRS had conceded that there was adequate and Rill consideration.
Est. of Strangi finally settled
However, after the war Camus argued that, although we must defend freedom, we must also err on the side of peace.
Practical pacifism and the war on terror
B L KEY (March 3) writes that Martin Pipe should "err on the side of caution" by running Gloria Victis in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase rather than the Tote Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Dilemma; Michael Doughty takes a different view
Black, TEI said that in developing guidance on the prohibition on ex parte communications with IRS Appeals officers, the question should not merely be, "Is this communication legally permissible under the statute?" Rather, the IRS should focus instead on the question, "Could this communication create an impression that Appeals' mission to provide a fair, impartial hearing has been compromised?" In other words, TEI's president noted, the IRS should err on the side of open communications between the IRS and the taxpayer.
Openness Is to Implementing Ex Parte Ban on Appeals Communications
pyogenes (ERR)isolated in Gipuzkoa, Spain, in the last 10 years and 128 ErR isolated in Vitoria and Madrid during 1996.
Clonal Differences among Erythromycin. Resistant Streptococcus pyogenes in Spain
If we err with our players, we must err on the conservative side.
The "powerline" view on creatine
The Fifth Circuit analyzed the factual bases for each of the arguments in depth and held that the Tax Court did not clearly err in finding that S's asset transfer to SFLP lacked a a substantial nontax purpose.
Taxpayer loses FLP appeal on retained rights
MPs should be allowed to "err and stray" before going into public life, drug row Tory David Cameron said last night.
CAMERON: WE CAN ALL ERR AND STRAY; DIMBLEBY: HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN CLASS A DRUGS?