Watch out

Question

Wacth out for safety as you back up.Is this correct?ThanksLiJ

Hoa Thai · Accepted Answer

Liveinjapan~~Wacth~~ Watch out for safety as you back up. Except the typo, the sentence is okay.

Is this correct?

Thanks
LiJ

Liveinjapan · Answer

Thanks, Hoa Thai. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> Got it.

Vorpar · Answer

The sentence is a little odd in AmE.

Most common would be: "Be careful as you back up." or "Watch out for hazards as you back up."

If you need to use "safety", then I would say "For your safety, you need to watch out for hazards as you back up."

Hoa Thai · Answer

VorparThe sentence is a little odd in AmE.

Most common would be: "Be careful as you back up." or "Watch out for hazards as you back up."

If you need to use "safety", then I would say "For your safety, you need to watch out for hazards as you back up."

Hi Vopar,

I agree with what you said when you caution people who perform the act not to get hurt themselves. However, I have seen people use 'Watch out for safety' when they think about the safety of potentially unintended victims. Safety here is the safety of others. Here is an example:

"On the downside they're not very padded or comfortable particularly for younger babies, and the lack of a tray may be inhibiting if you want your child to get on with colouring/baking/playdough - without trashing the table. Watch out for safety too - you may need to invest in an extra harness and be scrupulous about fitting it" - Highchair Mumsnet Guide.

Regards,
Hoa Thai

Vorpar · Answer

You're right, but that's an example of BrE.

Since I speak AmE, I'm only in a position to offer my opinion about my own dialect.

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

Watch out for safety as you back up.

I would say the commonest expression would be simply 'Watch out as you back up'.

'Watch out' means 'be careful', so safety is strongly implied by the phrase itself. In other words, 'for safety' seems rather redundant.

Usually, the 'for' phrase specifies the hazard, eg 'Watch out for children as you back up'.

Best wishes, Clive

Hoa Thai · Answer

CliveHi guys,

Watch out for safety as you back up.

I would say the commonest expression would be simply 'Watch out as you back up'.

'Watch out' means 'be careful', so safety is strongly implied by the phrase itself. In other words, 'for safety' seems rather redundant.

Usually, the 'for' phrase specifies the hazard, eg 'Watch out for children as you back up'.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

I understand what you tried to convey. However, I have never heard that children are the hazard in this context. 'Children' here means the safety of the children.

Best,
Hoa Thai

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I understand what you tried to convey. However, I have never heard that children are the hazard in this context. 'Children' here means the safety of the children.

Yes, but such an example is commonly said. To a driver, it seems reasonable in my opinion to consider children as a hazard. The idea is that, if you hit one of them, you are in big trouble. It's like saying 'Watch out for that parked car', meaning 'Don't hit it'.

Clive

Hoa Thai · Answer

CliveHi,

I understand what you tried to convey. However, I have never heard that children are the hazard in this context. 'Children' here means the safety of the children.

Yes, but such an example is commonly said. To a driver, it seems reasonable in my opinion to consider children as a hazard. The idea is that, if you hit one of them, you are in big trouble. It's like saying 'Watch out for that parked car', meaning 'Don't hit it'.

Clive

Hi again,

I think there is a difference in the meaning here. When we say, 'watching out for children', our thought is about the safety of the kids, who have no control of the action (i.e., outward caring); while 'watching out for that parked car' or 'watching out for the hazard' is about the potentially bad consequence for the one who is in control of his/her action (i.e., inward caution). That is the reason why I think 'Watch out as you back up' is not clear to whom the action might cause harm; unless it means to both the driver and the objects or people around.

Hoa Thai
EDIT NOTE: On my second thought, when a driver hits something, harm comes to both but in different degree.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I think there is a difference in the meaning here. When we say, 'watching out for children', our thought is about the safety of the kids, who have no control of the action (i.e., outward caring); while 'watching out for that parked car' or 'watching out for the hazard' is about the potentially bad consequence for the one who is in control of his/her action (i.e., inward caution). If someone says 'Watch out for children' to someone who is backing up, the common interpretation is simply 'Don't hit the children'. I'd venture to say the speaker's first thoughts are with the driver.

That is the reason why I think 'Watch out as you back up' is not clear to whom the action might cause harm; unless it means to both the driver and the objects or people around. Yes.

Hoa Thai
EDIT NOTE: On my second thought, when a driver hits something, harm comes to both but in different degree. Yes.

If you'll forgive my saying so, I think perhaps you are tending to intellectualize this utterance to a greater degree than most native speakers would. I fear that we don't always speak rationally, thoughtfully and carefully.

Clive

Watch out

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