Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

cautel†, heed, circumspection, calculation, deliberation. foresight &c 510; vigilance &c 459; warning &c 668. coolness &c adj.; self-possession, self-command; presence of mind, sang froid [Fr.]; well-regulated mind; worldly wisdom, Fabian policy. V. be cautious &c adj.; take care, take heed, take good care; have a care mind, what one is about; be on one's guard &c (keep watch) 459; make assurance doubly sure [Macbeth]. bespeak &c (be early) 132. think twice, look before one leaps, count the cost, look to the main chance, cut one's coat according to one's cloth; feel one's ground, feel one's way; see how the land lies &c (foresight) 510; wait to see how the cat jumps; bridle one's tongue; reculer pour mieux sauter &c (prepare) 673 [Fr.]; let well alone, let well enough alone; let sleeping dogs lie, ne pas reveiller le chat qui dort [Fr.], don't wake a sleeping cat. keep out of harm's way, keep out of troubled waters; keep at a respectful distance, stand aloof; keep on the safe side, be on the safe side. husband one's resources &c 636. caution &c (warn) 668. Adj. cautious, wary, guarded; on one's guard &c (watchful) 459; cavendo tutus [Lat.]; in medio tutissimus [Lat.]; vigilant. careful, heedful; cautelous†, stealthy, chary, shy of, circumspect, prudent, discreet, politic; sure-footed &c (skillful) 698. unenterprising, unadventurous, cool, steady, self-possessed; overcautious. Adv. cautiously &c adj.. Int. have a care!, Phr. timeo Danaos [Lat.] [Vergil]; festina lente [Lat.]. ante victoriam ne canas triumphum [Lat.], don't sing out victory before the triumph; give, every man thine ear but few thy voice [Hamlet]; he who laughs last laughs best, il rit bien qui rit le dernier [Fr.]; ni firmes carta que no leas ni bebas agua que no veas [Sp.]; nescit vox missa reverti [Lat.] [Horace]; love all, trust a few [All's Well]; noli irritare leones [Lat.]; safe bind safe find; if it ain't broke, don't fix it [Bert Lance].