anything but safe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anything but safe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that is risky or dangerous, indicating that safety is not a characteristic of it. Example: "The new roller coaster is anything but safe, with its steep drops and sharp turns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The bet is anything but safe.

The New York Times - Arts

Others said the police made them feel anything but safe.

The Washington Post

CCP's next release will be anything but safe.

The Guardian - Tech

Paul Takacs directs Blake Ellis and Amelia Workman as a couple for whom sex is anything but safe.

The New York Times - Arts

But it felt, on this morning after a political convulsion unlike anything anyone here has seen, that Thailand's future was anything but safe.

The New York Times

In short, the sort of place you'd feel safe putting your money — yet it seems it was anything but safe and secure.

The Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Democracy doesn't work absent hard discussion--uncomfortable dialogue that, though anything but a "safe space," makes us a more cohesive (and thus safer) society in the long-run.

HuffPost

In reality, owning hotels is anything but a safe, volatility-free way to invest money.

The New York Times

After all, historically, gold has been anything but a safe investment.

The New York Times

We don't need anything, but a safe passage out of here and for the world to hear the truth.

The Guardian

My second book, John Aubrey: My Own Life, was anything but a safe and natural progression from my first.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anything but safe" to add emphasis when describing a situation where safety is notably absent, creating a stronger impact than simply saying something is "unsafe".

Common error

Avoid using "anything but safe" when a simple "unsafe" suffices. The phrase is most effective when you want to highlight a surprising or unexpected lack of safety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anything but safe" functions as a qualifier, adding emphasis to the lack of safety. It serves to underscore that a particular situation or thing is notably not safe, as evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

8%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anything but safe" is a commonly used phrase to emphatically express the absence of safety. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and effective for highlighting risk or concern. Predominantly found in News & Media, its neutral register allows for versatile application. When using the phrase, emphasize the unexpected or notable lack of safety for maximum impact. Alternatives such as "far from safe" and "definitely not safe" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far from safe

Indicates a condition that is not close to being safe.

definitely not safe

Emphasizes the absence of safety in a clear and direct manner.

hardly safe

Suggests that the situation is not safe and might even be dangerous.

not at all safe

Underscores the complete lack of safety.

perilous

Emphasizes danger and risk.

precarious

Focuses on the instability and potential for danger.

risky

Highlights the presence of potential harm or negative consequences.

dangerous

Directly states that something poses a threat.

insecure

Focuses on the lack of security or protection.

hazardous

Emphasizes the presence of specific hazards or dangers.

FAQs

How can I use "anything but safe" in a sentence?

You can use "anything but safe" to describe a situation that is clearly lacking security or protection. For example, "The old bridge looked "anything but safe" after the storm".

What's a similar phrase to "anything but safe"?

A similar phrase is "far from safe". Both phrases emphasize the absence of safety. For example, "The journey was "far from safe" due to the unpredictable weather" conveys a similar meaning to "The journey was anything but safe."

Is it correct to say "everything but safe"?

While grammatically sound, "everything but safe" doesn't convey the intended meaning of highlighting a lack of safety. "Everything but safe" would imply that all aspects are present except safety, while "anything but safe" directly emphasizes unsafety.

When is it appropriate to use "anything but safe" instead of simply "unsafe"?

"Anything but safe" is effective when you want to express a surprising or notable lack of safety. It adds emphasis and can be used to create a stronger impression than just saying something is "unsafe".