don't count your chickens before they hatch

Meaning

This proverb warns against making plans based on future events that might not happen. It is used to advise someone to wait until a positive outcome is certain before celebrating or spending money. The tone is usually cautionary, friendly, or pragmatic.

Examples

• I know you're planning your victory party, but don't count your chickens before they hatch.

  I know you're planning your victory party, but don't count your chickens before they hatch.

• She's already looking at apartments in London, but she hasn't got the job yet—talk about counting your chickens before they hatch!

  She's already looking at apartments in London, but she hasn't got the job yet—talk about counting your chickens before they hatch!

• I might get a big bonus next month, but I'm not buying that new laptop yet; don't count your chickens before they hatch.

  I might get a big bonus next month, but I'm not buying that new laptop yet; don't count your chickens before they hatch.

• He wanted to book the flights today, but I told him to wait and not count his chickens before they hatch.

  He wanted to book the flights today, but I told him to wait and not count his chickens before they hatch.

• We have a lead in the polls, but don't count your chickens before they hatch; there's still a week of campaigning left.

  We have a lead in the polls, but don't count your chickens before they hatch; there's still a week of campaigning left.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't count your chickens before they are born.

  ✓ Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

  Learners often substitute 'hatch' with 'are born' or 'come out', but this is a fixed idiom.

• ✗ I am counting my chickens because I will get the job.

  ✓ I'm confident, but I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.

  Native speakers rarely use the positive form 'count your chickens' to mean positive planning unless they are warning themselves about being overly optimistic.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I've already spent my bonus money, even though my boss hasn't approved it yet. Wow, talk about ___!

  💡 Don't assume future success before it actually happens.

  Show answer

  counting your chickens before they hatch

• We shouldn't book the non-refundable hotel until our visas are approved. Let's ___.

  💡 Don't make plans based on uncertain future events.

  Show answer

  not count our chickens before they hatch