Safe and sound
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Completely out of danger and found or returned without physical injury, loss, or damage. Sound retains its old whole or uninjured sense in this phrase. Regional use: Middle English; now widespread.
Origin
The pairing is recorded in Middle English from the early fourteenth century in safe-and-sound and sound-and-safe orders. Sound here is the old adjective meaning healthy, whole, or uninjured, descended from Old English gesund; it has nothing to do with noise. The two near-synonyms reinforce each other, a common pattern in durable English word pairs.
Research Sources
Variants
- Sound and safe
Usage Examples
- The missing walkers reached the village safe and sound.
- Every glass arrived at the new house safe and sound.
- Send a message when you are home safe and sound.