hope for the best, prepare for the worst

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

While one should maintain a positive attitude when facing uncertain or challenging circumstances, one should not let this optimism blind them to the need to prepare for the possible hardships which may arise.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Nên giữ thái độ tích cực khi đối mặt với hoàn cảnh không chắc chắn hoặc khó khăn, nhưng không để sự lạc quan che mắt việc chuẩn bị cho khó khăn có thể xảy ra

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

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 “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” mean?

While one should maintain a positive attitude when facing uncertain or challenging circumstances, one should not let this optimism blind them to the need to prepare for the possible hardships which may arise.

Is “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.