PRECAUTION, PRECAUTIONARY
ADJECTIVES
► PREVENTIAL precautionary; preventing something from occurring or being done → 1657
NOUNS
► WARIMENT precaution → 1596 obs.
PHRASES
► IF YOU CAN’T BE GOOD, BE CAREFUL! a form of farewell with sexual innuendo, intimating that if one can’t refuse sexual advances, then one should protect oneself with contraceptives; advice to take precautions → 1996 Aust. & NZ sl. (Bk.)
VERBS
► HAVE A SHEET ANCHOR TO WINDWARD to take precautions → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► HOLD ONTO YOUR HAT to get ready for trouble; to take precautions → 1970s US sl.
► LICK ONE’S FLINT to prepare for a difficult task; to take precautions against disaster → 1953 Amer. dial.
► NOT TO HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE LADLE WHEN THE POT COMES A-BOIL to be prepared, to take proper precautions → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WAIT to take precautions, to be watchful or cautious → a1300 obs.
Lexicophilia 