Join In
Twitter
YouTube
Weekly Newsletter
Libraries
A-Z Grammatical Terms
A-Z Confused Words
FAQs by Writers
A-Z Awkward Plurals
Punctuation Lessons
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch (Origin)
What Is the Origin of the Saying "Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch"?
The term "don't count your chickens before they hatch" means don't rely on something until you're sure of it. In other words, it is warning not to rush to evaluate a situation without knowing the outcome.Table of Contents
- English Proverbs and Idioms Test
- More Proverbs, Sayings, and Idioms

Examples of Use:
- Don't count your chickens before they hatch; it's wise to wait for the final outcome before making assumptions.
- It's easy to get carried away with excitement, but don't count your chickens before they hatch to avoid disappointment.
- Don't count your chickens before they hatch; unforeseen circumstances can alter the expected outcome.
- He was confident he would win the competition, but his coach reminded him, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
- In the world of investments, it's essential to exercise caution and remember, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
A version of "don't count your chickens" first appears in English print in English poet Thomas Howell's "New Sonnets" from 1570:
- "Counte not thy Chickens that vnhatched be, Waye wordes as winde, till thou finde certaintee."
- "To swallow gudgeons ere they're catch'd,
And count their chickens ere they're hatched."
- Spanish: "No cantes victoria antes de tiempo" (Don't sing victory before time.)
- Russian: "Не продавай шкуры, не убив медведя." (Don't sell the skin having not killed the bear.)
Previous and Next Sayings
English Proverbs and Idioms Test
More Proverbs, Sayings, and Idioms
Help Us Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Find Us Quicker!
- When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.
Next lesson >