err on the side of
US /ɜːr ɑn ðə saɪd əv/
UK /ɜːr ɑn ðə saɪd əv/
1.
to choose to do something that is safer or more cautious, rather than taking a risk
:
•
When in doubt, it's always better to err on the side of caution.
•
The judge decided to err on the side of leniency, given the defendant's clean record.