don't count your chickens before they hatch
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Don't make plans for something that may not happen; alternatively, don't make an assumption about something that does not have a definitively predetermined outcome.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.Nói trước bước không qua.
Tatoeba sentence #684022 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Common questions
What does “don't count your chickens before they hatch” mean?
Don't make plans for something that may not happen; alternatively, don't make an assumption about something that does not have a definitively predetermined outcome.
Is “don't count your chickens before they hatch” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.