{"id":4204,"date":"2022-06-03T16:13:56","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T16:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4204"},"modified":"2022-06-03T16:13:56","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T16:13:56","slug":"safe-and-sound-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/safe-and-sound-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe and Sound \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that you arrived home without incident? You could use \u201csafe and sound<\/em>\u201d to put their mind at rest. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

If you are \u201csafe and sound<\/em>,\u201d it means that you arrived at a destination without incident or are positioned in a secure and comfortable space. The phrase can also refer to being whole or undamaged, meaning that you didn\u2019t sustain any incident that ruined your physical integrity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The saying can apply to people or objects. For instance, your family could be safe and sound at home after returning from a vacation. Or the Rolex watches are safe and sound after securing them in the vault.<\/p>\n

To be safe and sound means that you are not under any foreseeable threat. It also means that you are in a trustworthy and secure location. Typically, it\u2019s a reply or exclamation made after safely reaching a destination.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cEveryone got home safe and sound. There\u2019s no need to send out the search party for us. Thanks for calling. We appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe packed the jewelry into the vault where it's safe and sound. Now we just polish the display counters, and then it's time to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids are home from camp safe and sound. They had a long bus ride and went straight to bed because they felt tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all back from vacation safe and sound; it\u2019s good to see you again. Come past for a chat, and we\u2019ll show you the photos.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re at the destination safe and sound. We have the prisoner in custody, and we\u2019re heading to the court right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything worked out, and we\u2019re safe and sound. I wouldn\u2019t have thought that an hour ago when our lives were at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is safe and sound on the home front right now. The kids are asleep, and I\u2019ve got the alarm company on standby if anything goes wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want that feeling of being safe and sound right now. There is so much going on in this chaos, and I\u2019ve never felt more at risk ever in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made it home safe and sound, even though there was that mudslide on the way here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201csafe and sound\u201d originates from the Shakespeare play, The Comedy of Errors,\u201d performed in 1594. The play has a line in act 4, scene 4, that reads as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cFetch our stuff from thence: I long that we were safe and sound aboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

We can find further examples of the use of the expression in \u201cThe Scholemaster,\u201d where it appears in the following archaic language.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho by his wisedome and honestie, by his example and authority, may be able to kepe them safe and sound, in the feare of God\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n