Words worth understanding
Start with the thought in plain English. Then explore the imagery, a practical example, when to use it, and what the saying does not mean.
4,000 entries with editorial explanations. The wider collection also contains entries still awaiting an individual interpretation.
proverb · Traditional
The saying connects cruel rule with fear, suggesting that domination can make both ruler and subjects watchful. It invites scrutiny of coercive conduct, but it is not a universal account of another person’s motives or proof that fear always reveals cruelty.
Read the explanation and example ↗proverb · Traditional (French-language collection)
Do not enlarge one difficulty into several through exaggeration or a poorly chosen response. Examine the actual problem before adding imagined dangers or unnecessary complications.
Read the explanation and example ↗proverb · Traditional
Do not assume the worst before the feared harm has occurred. The saying cautions against premature alarm, without requiring silence about a credible risk or dismissing pain that someone already experiences.
Read the explanation and example ↗proverb · Traditional
Meeting trouble halfway pictures moving toward a difficulty before it arrives. The saying warns against treating a feared problem as already certain.
Read the explanation and example ↗proverb · Traditional (French-language collection)
Fear can produce ingenious preparations or imagined dangers. Examine whether a new idea responds to evidence and helps the situation rather than merely extending the alarm.
Read the explanation and example ↗proverb · Traditional (French-language collection)
It can be easier to leave a risky situation before becoming deeply involved. The riverbank and bottom distinguish an early exit from a much harder recovery.
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What someone feared may have been worse than what actually happened. The comparison can bring perspective after an event, without deciding in advance that a concern is groundless or dismissing the distress of being frightened.
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A feared difficulty may be less daunting than its reputation suggests. Find out what the situation actually involves before allowing an exaggerated picture to decide for you.
Read the explanation and example ↗proverb · Traditional (French-language collection)
A person or force dismissed as insignificant may still cause harm. Consider the actual opportunity and consequences rather than judging a threat only by apparent size.
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