“Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch” is an idiom in the English language that people use in everyday conversation. You have likely used this expression yourself at some point, but many people don’t know its true meaning. Let’s understand the actual meaning of this idiom, explore when and how it originated, and see some real-life examples sentences that will help you use this expression with ease.
Meaning of the Idiom
The idiom “Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch” advises against assuming future success or outcomes before they actually occur. Essentially, it means one should avoid taking things for granted until they are certain. The expression serves as a reminder to temper expectations to avoid disappointment in case things don’t turn out as anticipated.
Origin of the Idiom
The origin of this phrase dates back to the 16th century. Its earliest recorded use was in Thomas Howell’s work, New Sonnets and Pretty Pamphlets (1570), where he wrote, “Counte not thy Chickens that vnhatched be.” The modern phrasing of this idiom appeared later in Samuel Butler’s Hudibras (1664), where the idea of counting “chickens ere they’re hatched” was further popularized. The phrase reflects the old farming wisdom that not all eggs will hatch successfully, illustrating the value of patience and realistic expectations
Examples Sentences
1. Sarah was excited about her job interview, but her friend reminded her, Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, as there were still other candidates to consider.
2. After winning the first two rounds of the competition, Mark started planning his victory speech, but his coach advised, Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
3. Tom had already picked out a car and arranged the financing, but his banker warned him, Don’t count your chickens before they hatch until the loan was approved.
4. Kevin started bragging about his promotion, but his boss told him, Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, as nothing was official yet.
5. Jessica was certain she would win the award, but her mentor cautioned, Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, as the final decision hadn’t been made.
Using ‘Don’t Count Your Chickens Before they Hatch’ in Daily Conversation
Now that you know the meaning and origin of the idiom “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” let’s see how you can use it in a real-world conversation.
Conversation 1:
Anna and David are talking about a potential investment in a startup Anna is considering.
Anna: I’m really excited about this new investment opportunity. The startup is growing fast, and I’m already thinking about how much money I’ll make.
David: That sounds promising, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You need to see how things unfold first.
Anna: You’re right. I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. I’ll keep an eye on how the business progresses before making any big assumptions.
David: It’s always smart to stay grounded until the returns are guaranteed.
Conversation 2:
Olivia and Jack are discussing a job offer Jack is waiting to hear back from.
Olivia: So, Jack, have you heard back from that company you interviewed with?
Jack: Yeah, they said they’ll get back to me soon. I’m feeling pretty confident. I’m already thinking about how I’ll negotiate the salary.
Olivia: I know you’re excited, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You haven’t received the official offer yet.
Jack: You’re right. I should wait until everything’s finalized before I start making plans.
Olivia: Exactly. It’s better to be cautious and wait for confirmation before getting ahead of yourself.
Similar Idioms
- Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Meaning: This idiom advises against relying on one single plan or source for success, emphasizing the importance of spreading risk, similar to not assuming success before it’s certain.
Example: He invested in multiple stocks instead of just one, knowing it’s wise not to put all your eggs in one basket.
2. Cross That Bridge When You Come to It
Meaning: This phrase means not to worry about potential problems until they actually occur, reinforcing the idea of not assuming something will happen before it’s certain.
Example: She was anxious about the interview, but I told her to cross that bridge when she comes to it, and not stress too early.
Idioms Starting From Letter D
Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter D. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘D’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the D-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter D.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.