Don't count your chickens before they hatch

Definitions

• don't be overconfident or make assumptions
  Caution someone to not make plans or celebrate prematurely, as the outcome is uncertain and may not turn out as expected

• don't rely on something that hasn't happened yet
  Remind someone that it's not wise to depend on something that hasn't occurred or is not guaranteed to happen, as it may lead to disappointment or failure

Examples of Don't count your chickens before they hatch

• Sarah was so excited when she found out she had been offered her dream job. She immediately started planning her future and even bought a new car, thinking that her high salary would cover the expenses. However, a few weeks later, the company had to restructure, and Sarah's position was eliminated. She was left with a hefty car payment and no job. Her friend warned her, "Sarah, don't count your chickens before they hatch. You can't celebrate your successes until they are a reality."

  This idiom means that you should not assume that something will happen until it actually does. It is derived from the old practice of keeping chickens in a coop, where the farmer would not count the number of eggs in the nest until they hatched into chicks. This is because some eggs might not hatch, and the farmer would not want to get his hopes up. Similarly, in modern times, we should not assume that something will happen until it is a certainty.Another example could be:

• John was planning a surprise party for his wife's birthday. He had already bought the decorations and invited all their friends. However, his wife found out about the party and ruined the surprise. John's friend said, "John, you should have waited to buy the decorations and send out the invitations until your wife's birthday was closer. Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

  This example shows how the idiom can be applied to different situations. In this case, John was assuming that his wife would not find out about the party, but his assumption turned out to be wrong. His friend's advice was to wait until closer to the birthday to make any final preparations, to avoid any potential surprises.A third example could be:

• Mark had been working on a new project for months, and he was confident that it would be a huge success. He had already started planning his promotion and bonus, based on the expected profits. However, the project failed to meet expectations, and Mark was left with a loss. His boss said, "Mark, you should have waited to celebrate your successes until they were a reality. Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

  This example shows how the idiom can be used in a professional setting. In this case, Mark was assuming that the project would be a success, but his assumptions turned out to be wrong. His boss's advice was to wait until the project was actually successful before celebrating or making any future plans.A fourth example could be:

• Emily had been studying for her final exam for weeks, and she was confident that she would get an A. She had already started planning her graduation party, based on her expected grades. However, she received a C on the exam, and she was devastated. Her friend said, "Emily, you should have waited to celebrate your successes until they were a reality. Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

  This example shows how the idiom can be applied to academic situations. In this case, Emily was assuming that she would get an A, but her assumptions turned out to be wrong. Her friend's advice was to wait until she actually received her grades before celebrating or making any future plans.A fifth example could be:

• Tom had been trying to win the lottery for years, and he was convinced that he would eventually hit the jackpot. He had already started planning his retirement and dream vacation, based on his expected winnings. However, he never won the lottery, and he was left with nothing. His friend said, "Tom, you should have waited to celebrate your successes until they were a reality. Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

  This example shows how the idiom can be applied to situations that are largely out of our control, such as winning the lottery. In this case, Tom was assuming that he would eventually win the lottery, but his assumptions turned out to be wrong. His friend's advice was to wait until he actually won the lottery before celebrating or making any future plans.

Conclusion

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch" is a cautionary phrase used to advise against being overly confident or making assumptions about a situation. It reminds us to not make plans or celebrate prematurely, as the outcome may not turn out as expected.

In addition, the idiom also serves as a warning to not rely on something that hasn't happened yet. It reminds us that it's not wise to depend on something that is not guaranteed to happen, as it may lead to disappointment or failure. Essentially, this phrase encourages us to be realistic and not to take things for granted.

Origin of "Don't count your chickens before they hatch"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to one of Aesop's fables, "The Milkmaid and Her Pail." In this fable, a milkmaid carries a pail of milk on her head and starts fantasizing about all the things she will do with the money she will earn from selling the milk. However, she gets so carried away with her dreams that she trips and spills the milk, realizing that she should not have counted her chickens before they hatched.

This idiom has been used in literature since the 16th century and has become a commonly used phrase in the English language. It serves as a reminder to not get ahead of ourselves and to stay grounded in reality. The imagery of counting chickens before they hatch is a powerful metaphor for making premature assumptions and the potential consequences of doing so.