Due Care (noun)
Simple Definition: "Due care" means being careful and responsible in what you do. It is the level of care that an ordinary, reasonable person would use in a similar situation. It's about making sure you don't hurt yourself or others by being negligent or careless.
Usage Instructions: You can use "due care" when discussing legal matters, safety, responsibility, or when talking about how to act responsibly in daily life. It often comes up in conversations about accidents, mistakes, or when someone needs to show that they acted responsibly.
Example: - "The driver showed due care by slowing down in the foggy weather to avoid an accident."
Advanced Usage: In legal contexts, "due care" is often used to determine whether someone has acted responsibly. If someone did not show due care, they may be held responsible for any harm that results. For example, if a company does not follow safety protocols, it might be said they failed to exercise due care.
Word Variants: - Due Diligence: This is similar but often used in business contexts. It refers to the effort made by an ordinary prudent person to avoid harm to other people or their property.
Different Meaning:While "due care" primarily refers to being responsible and careful, it can also imply a legal standard. In a court of law, "due care" can determine whether someone is liable (legally responsible) for an accident or injury.
Synonyms: - Reasonable care - Proper care - Caution
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - Take due care: This is a phrase that means to be careful and responsible. For example: "When handling chemicals, you must take due care to avoid accidents." - Exercise due care: This means to act responsibly and carefully in a situation.