it's better to ask forgiveness than permission
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: it's easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission
Meaning · English
It is better to act decisively and apologize for it later than to seek approval to act and risk delay, objections, etc.
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 “it's better to ask forgiveness than permission” mean?
It is better to act decisively and apologize for it later than to seek approval to act and risk delay, objections, etc.
Is “it's better to ask forgiveness than permission” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.