if at first you don't succeed
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Persistence is important in the pursuit of success.
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 “if at first you don't succeed” mean?
Persistence is important in the pursuit of success.
Is “if at first you don't succeed” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.