cover one's bases

English

Alternative forms

• cover all of one's bases, cover all the bases, cover the bases

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

cover one's bases (third-person singular simple present covers one's bases, present participle covering one's bases, simple past and past participle covered one's bases)

1. (idiomatic) To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely.

   She eats a balanced diet, but takes vitamin pills anyway, to cover her bases.