bird in the hand
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: a bird in the hand
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Ellipsis of a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Cowboys picks are more miss than hit. Galloway is a relatively young guy, so what the hey. Bird in the hand, right?
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).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Ellipsis of a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bird in the hand” mean?
Ellipsis of a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Is “bird in the hand” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.