How do you say “Cover your bases” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is an alles denken, which literally means “to think of everything”. English speakers use cover your bases to mean to prepare for the different things that might happen or need attention. A natural fit for thorough preparation, though broader than the English. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
an alles denken
/an ˈaləs ˈdɛŋkn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “to think of everything”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
90 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
German often describes good planning simply as thinking of everything. Mentioning a backup or possible problem makes the careful preparation clear.
“Sich absichern” puts more weight on protecting yourself against risk. Use it when the extra step is a safeguard, not just a useful detail.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
sich absichern
Literally: “to secure oneself”
Useful when the preparation specifically protects against a risk.
In context
English
We booked an indoor room too, to cover our bases in case it rained.
German
Wir wollten an alles denken und buchten auch einen Saal für den Fall, dass es regnet.
English
Have we covered our bases for the trip?
German
Haben wir für die Reise an alles gedacht?
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-19