🛡️ Cover Your Bases: Protecting Yourself in the Game of Life ⚾
Cover one’s ass (CYA) Phrase: To protect oneself in case of failure or to avoid being blamed for something. Origin: A rather rude expression that dates from the 1950s and may have originated in the military. Example: “Is he a hero . . . [or] a CYA practitioner?” —The McLaughlin Group, July 26, 1987.
Synonyms
- Guard against
- Take precautions
- Play it safe
- Back yourself up
- Look out for numero uno
Antonyms
- Risk it all
- Throw caution to the wind
- Go out on a limb
- Take the plunge
Related Terms & Expressions
- Cover one’s tracks: To make one’s activities more hidden or secretive.
- Save one’s own skin: To do whatever is necessary to protect oneself from danger or harm.
- Hedge one’s bets: To protect oneself by having multiple options.
- Take evasive action: To avoid a dangerous or unwelcome situation.
- Prepare for the worst, hope for the best: A philosophy of planning for unfavorable outcomes while wishing for favorable ones.
Proverbs & Quotes
- “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” —Benjamin Franklin
- “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” —John A. Shedd
- “Better safe than sorry, but sometimes risky moves yield the biggest payoffs.” —A Fortune Cookie (probably)
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, Movies
- Book: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson: About adapting to change, and in some cases, safeguarding your interests.
- Song: “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips—A motivating anthem about enduring tough times.
- Poem: “If—” by Rudyard Kipling—Inspirational verses about maintaining integrity especially when on precarious grounds.
- Movie: Catch Me If You Can —About a con artist who constantly covers his tracks to evade the authorities.
Inspirational Thought
“Always cover your tracks… but don’t forget to blaze new trails. The art of self-preservation shouldn’t make you a prisoner of safety; instead, let it be the strategy that empowers you to take smarter risks.” —S. A. Shieldword
Quizzes 🎉
### What does "cover one's ass (CYA)" mean?
- [x] Protect oneself in case of failure or avoid being blamed
- [ ] Start a gardening project
- [ ] Wear specially reinforced pants
- [ ] Do a distinct dance move
> **Explanation:** "Cover one's ass (CYA)" means taking precautions to avoid blame or failure, a concept extending from the rude military jargon of the 1950s.
### Which of these is similar to "cover one's ass"?
- [ ] Risk it all
- [ ] Take the plunge
- [x] Guard against
- [ ] Make a public confession
> **Explanation:** "Guard against" is a similar phrase that means to take precautions to protect oneself.
### Which phrase means "to make one's activities more hidden or secretive"?
- [ ] Take a gamble
- [x] Cover one's tracks
- [ ] Put all your eggs in one basket
- [ ] Jump in with both feet
> **Explanation:** "Cover one's tracks" means to make one's activities more hidden or secretive.
### Which idiom means to do whatever necessary to protect oneself from danger?
- [ ] Build castles in the air
- [x] Save one’s own skin
- [ ] Dance to a different tune
- [ ] BEAT AROUND THE BUSH
> **Explanation:** "Save one’s own skin" means to do whatever necessary to protect oneself from danger.
### True or False: 'Take the plunge' is a synonym for 'cover one's ass'
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** 'Take the plunge' means to commit wholeheartedly to something, which is an antonym in context to 'cover one's ass' that embodies cautiousness.
