wary

to be careful in case something bad might happen

TRANSLATION

auf der Hut sein, argwöhnisch, wachsam

STATISTICS

IN THE PRESS

WARY of invading the Persian empire, king Croesus one day consulted the oracle at Delphi, who replied that if he went to war, he would destroy a great empire.

Thus encouraged, he promptly attacked the Persians - who proceeded to overwhelm the Lydians, capture their capital, and throw their leader Croesus into prison.

Croesus, understandably furious, sent a delegation to Delphi demanding to know why the oracle had deceived him.

The oracle's reply? She had hardly deceived him. Croesus had indeed destroyed a great empire: his own.

Did you
know?

wary

Means: on guard, watchful, careful

Synonyms

alert, attentive, cagey, calculating, canny, cautious, chary, circumspect, considerate, discreet, distrustful, doubting, gingerly, guarded, heedful, leery, on guard, prudent, safe, sly, suspicious, thinking twice, thrifty, vigilant, watchful, watching out

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