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cover all bases

Register · Neutral CEFR B2
Post

Figurative meaning

to consider and prepare for every important part, possibility, or problem so nothing is missed

Why this phrase?

Every relevant possibility is pictured as a base that must be reached or protected so none is left unattended.

Example

“We tested on three browsers to cover all bases.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Related idioms

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

blow someone's cover Neutral · CEFR B2
to expose what someone has kept secret, such as their identity or scheme
touch base Informal · CEFR B1
to make brief contact with someone, usually to update them or stay connected
break cover Neutral · CEFR B2
to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known
the devil is in the details Neutral · CEFR B2
the hidden difficulties of a plan are in its small details
can of worms Informal · CEFR B1
a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched
domino effect Neutral · CEFR B1
a chain reaction in which one event triggers a series of similar events

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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