Cover all the bases
Meaning
To anticipate and prepare for every possible contingency or aspect of a situation, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
Origin
The phrase "cover all the bases" springs directly from the tactical world of baseball, a sport where defensive strategy is paramount. On the baseball diamond, a fielder must position themselves to guard each of the four bases to prevent runners from advancing or scoring. Failing to "cover all the bases" literally leaves a critical gap in the defense, allowing the opposing team to capitalize and score runs. This vivid, literal image of thorough defensive readiness in baseball quickly transcended the ballpark, embedding itself into common language as a potent metaphor for comprehensive planning and exhaustive preparation in any scenario, ensuring every detail and potential problem is addressed.
Examples
- Before launching the new product, the team worked diligently to cover all the bases, ensuring marketing, production, and distribution were perfectly aligned.
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