The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SAFER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
A
F
E
R
More clues leading to the result SAFER
- Peter Rabbit’s head is more secure
- Fares badly, taking fewer risks
- Less risky when putting back iron right?
- Arbiter, since retiring, in less danger
- Match official since turning round taking fewer chances
- Better protected, back in secure fastness
- Attraction of pin-up? Whistler hung up is more prudent
- Less risky returning in the role of whistle-blower after retirement
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "taking fewer chances" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case taking fewer chances = safer.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SAFER mean?
SAFER adjective- Not in danger; out of harm's reach.
- Free from risk.
- Providing protection from danger; providing shelter.
- When a batter successfully reaches first base, or when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base or returns to the base he last occupied; not out.
- Properly secured.
- (used after a noun, often forming a compound) Not susceptible to a specified source of harm.
- Great, cool, awesome, respectable; a term of approbation, often as interjection.
- Lenient, usually describing a teacher that is easy-going.
- Reliable; trusty.
- Cautious.
- Of a programming language, type-safe or more generally offering well-defined behavior despite programming errors.