perfect is the enemy of good
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: the perfect is the enemy of the good
Sense 1
Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
sự khắt khe về sự hoàn hảo thường ngăn cản cơ hội có được điều đáng giá
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement through compromises.
sự khắt khe về sự hoàn hảo ngăn cản sự cải thiện dần dần thông qua thỏa hiệp
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “perfect is the enemy of good” mean?
Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
Is “perfect is the enemy of good” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.