don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Synonym of don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
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 “don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear” mean?
Synonym of don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Is “don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.