Don’t squander opportunity.
Don’t squander opportunity.
Meaning in plain English
The instruction warns against squandering an opportunity. It asks that a possible advantage not be lost through careless use or neglect.
Example
Someone assesses a useful opening and responds in time while declining a different offer that does not fit.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Opportunity is unspecified, so a useful application first identifies what is being offered and whether it suits the person. The phrase should not make every invitation obligatory or treat declining an unsuitable chance as waste. Choices and constraints still matter.
When to use it
Use it to discuss a suitable opportunity and a considered response.
Keep in mind
Declining a chance is not necessarily waste, and an opportunity’s value needs assessment.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 233; PDF page 37
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