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safety net

safety net

68 3.4
A system that helps people, usually with money, when they are in trouble
  • noun
  • /ˈseɪfti nɛt/
translation icon : red de protección social
  • Most countries in the civilized Western world have a safety net, and ours is thinner than most.
  • social safety net
  • provide a safety net
  • welfare safety net

And so you kind of need the safety net of a sponsorship to keep you afloat.

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Examples

  • So a woman might need to go to the hospital, but she has no safety net, no resources to fall back on.

  • The government established a social safety net to provide support for families in need during economic downturns.

  • For some people, especially children, welfare is an essential safety net.

    Academic text (2003)
  • We will have a lot of insights into how that social service safety net in Canada affects our labor policy.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The EU provided for guaranteed pay for work, workplace safety, and a social safety net.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The key steps would be improved social safety nets to cushion their transition and training programs to improve their skills.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Without a financial safety net, many people struggle to cope with unexpected expenses like medical bills.

  • Workers are reassured that the company offers a comprehensive safety net to protect them against job loss.

Synonyms

protection
vssafety net
  • Specialized
195 2.0

Government actions that try to keep local businesses safe from foreign competition

is a broader support arrangement that covers nonfinancial risks and help
safeguard
vssafety net
61 4.0

A way to protect someone or something from harm

is an arranged support system providing ongoing help in case of failure
backstop
vssafety net
5 6.4

A plan or fund that protects against failure and emergencies

is regular protective support used whenever difficulty or failure might occur
safe harbor
vssafety net
  • US
2 3.9

A place or situation that protects people from danger

is an arranged support system rather than a single physical refuge
safety cushion
vssafety net
3.7

Extra money you keep for unexpected bills or emergencies

is an arranged support system offering varied protection beyond just financial reserves

How Protective

insurance
2.0
lifeline
48 4.2
safety net
68 3.4
fallback
24 4.0
precaution
229 3.4

Surface Forms

safety net singular
safety nets plural

Morphology

safety + net

The compound meaning is directly inferable from 'safety' (protection) + 'net' (a device that catches/supports): a system that "catches" people in difficulty. Although metaphorical, the image is natural and commonly used cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily deduce the sense.

Etymology

Safety net comes from the picture of a circus net that catches a performer who falls, so people call a system like unemployment benefits a safety net because it 'catches' you when life goes wrong.