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Vague vs Safe - What's the difference?

vague | safe | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between vague and safe

is that vague is not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms while safe is not in danger; free from harm's reach.

As nouns the difference between vague and safe

is that vague is a wandering; a vagary while safe is a box, usually made of metal, in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping.

As a verb vague

is to wander; to roam; to stray.

vague

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
  • *
  • *2004: , Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage
  • *:Throughout the first week of his presidency, Dulles and Bissell continued to brief Kennedy on their strategy for Cuba, but the men were vague and their meetings offered little in the way of hard facts.
  • Not having a precise meaning.
  • :
  • Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.
  • :
  • Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.
  • :
  • Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
  • Lacking expression; vacant.
  • Not sharply outlined; hazy.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, chapter=Ep./1/2
  • , passage=He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.}}
  • Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.
  • *Sir (c.1564-1627)
  • *:to set upon the vague villains
  • *(John Keats) (1795-1821)
  • *:She danced along with vague , regardless eyes.
  • Synonyms

    * obscure * ambiguous

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A wandering; a vagary.
  • (Holinshed)
  • An indefinite expanse.
  • * Lowell
  • The gray vague of unsympathizing sea.

    Verb

    (vagu)
  • To wander; to roam; to stray.
  • * Holland
  • [The soul] doth vague and wander.

    safe

    English

    (wikipedia safe)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Not in danger; free from harm's reach.
  • Free from risk; harmless, riskless.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.}}
  • Providing protection from danger; providing shelter.
  • (baseball) When a batter successfully reaches first base, or when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base or returns to the base he last occupied; not out.
  • Properly secured; secure.
  • (used after a noun, often, forming a compound) Not in danger from the specified source of harm.
  • (UK, slang) Great, cool, awesome, respectable;
  • * {{quote-newsgroup, year=1996, date=August 12, author="Mandrake", title=Re: Multiple Messages - an apology
  • , newsgroup=uk.people.gothic citation , passage=and you also forgot to mentioned(SIC) the wheels man you know bmw playing¶ ragga jungle hip hop tunes¶ and on the mobile¶ yeah safe !¶ nice one¶ later}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1996 or 1997, year_published=2002, publisher=Methuen
  • , author=Roy Williams, title=Plays 1: The No Boys Cricket Club / Startstruck / Lift Off citation , isbn=9780413772091, page=165 , passage=Young Mal: Yu can’t. Irie means yer cool, yer safe , everything awright.}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=2000, year_published=2005, publisher=Justin, Charles & Co.
  • , author=Teddy Hayes, title=Dead by Popular Demand, section=Chapter 14 citation , pageurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=mjbGFX-X_-8C&pg=PT145&dq=yeah+safe+laters&hl=en&ei=0r5ZTPPdE4ymOKyAufII&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAw
  • v=onepage&q&f=false
  • , isbn=9781932112238, page=134 , passage=“If you need more, just ring, yeah?” Punch said.¶ “Safe ,” Brian answered.}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=2002, publisher=Trentham Books, author=Danny Braverman
  • , title=Playing a Part: Drama and Citizenship, section=One Thursday — a short play citation , pageurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=pJIGiwslfZoC&pg=PA62&dq=safe , isbn=9781858562424, page=62 , passage=They end the call.'' Fami ''goes over to'' Paul. ''They touch hands .¶ Femi: Yeah, safe man.}}
  • * (rfdate) Steve Carter, Love, Sex and Tesco's Finest Cava , page 169:
  • “Yeah, safe mate, wassup?” says one hoodie, who should at least be credited with attempting a more detailed sentence construction.
  • Reliable.
  • Cautious.
  • Synonyms

    * harmless, riskless * secure * (cool) wicked, cool, awesome * (reliable) trustworthy

    Antonyms

    * unsafe * dangerous * harmful * insecure

    Hyponyms

    * (not in danger from the specified source of harm) * *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A box, usually made of metal, in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping.
  • (slang) A condom.
  • * 1999 , (Rita Ciresi), Pink Slip , Delta (1999), ISBN 0385323638, page 328:
  • She'd better have an arsenal of Trojans in her purse just in case he wasn't carrying a safe in his back pocket.
  • (dated) A ventilated or refrigerated chest or closet for securing provisions from noxious animals or insects.
  • Synonyms

    * (box for storing valuables) coffer, lockbox, strongbox * (condom) see also .

    Derived terms

    * * * * *

    See also

    * save * safety

    Statistics

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