a promise made is a promise kept
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A promise that one makes should be or can be considered a promise that one will certainly honor.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Lời hứa mà một người đưa ra nên được coi là lời hứa mà người đó chắc chắn sẽ giữ
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
We'll never rise together if we allow medical bills to swallow family budgets or let people retire penniless after a lifetime of hard work, and so today we must demand that when it comes to commitments made [to] working men and women on health care and pensions, a promise made is a promise kept.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “a promise made is a promise kept” mean?
A promise that one makes should be or can be considered a promise that one will certainly honor.
Is “a promise made is a promise kept” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.