Learn English – Origin and usage of “safe and sound”

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I've often wondered about the phrase "safe and sound." It seems like a common phrase that most English speakers understand, but it also seems quite old-fashioned to me. I read about it, and I understand it goes back all the way to the 14th century, but I've been unable to find its first use. Are people aware of any other popular usages over the years that would explain how it would remain commonplace after all these centuries — despite "sound" not commonly meaning "whole" in modern times?

Best Answer

It is the ancient and still used meaning of sound of free from injury, healthy that is used in the common saying "safe and sound":

Sound:

  • "free from special defect or injury," c.1200, from Old English gesund "sound, safe, having the organs and faculties complete and in perfect action," from Proto-Germanic *sunda-, from Germanic root *swen-to- "healthy, strong".

Safe and sound:

  • Out of danger and unharmed, as in It was a challenging climb, so I'm relieved they got home safe and sound. [c. 1300 ]

(AHD)

Early usage examples:

1594, William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, act 4, scene 4,:

  • Fetch our stuff from thence: I long that we were safe and sound aboard.

1570 The Scholemaster: Or Plaine and Perfite Way of Teachyng Children:

  • Who, by his wisedome and honestie, by his example and authority, may be able to kepe them safe and sound, in the feare of God...

Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) uses hole and sounde with the meaning of safe and sound.

OED - s.v. sound a. sound, healthy; safe, unharmed [See hole3 adj., sounde2 adv.]

(A Lexical Concordance to the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer)

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