proverb · Words worth keeping
Drive not a second nail till the first is clenched.
Drive not a second nail till the first is clenched.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Secure one necessary step before adding another that depends on it. Check the foundation of the next action rather than expanding work on an arrangement that is still unsettled.
Example
A team confirms who is responsible for maintaining a shared record before adding several new groups whose information will depend on that arrangement.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The first nail needs to be secure before attention moves to the second. Figuratively, a person may add commitments or tasks while the arrangement supporting them has not been completed. The image encourages dependable sequencing where one stage really does rely on another. It does not mean that every task must be finished before any separate work can begin; some activities can proceed together without interfering. The practical distinction identifies the actual dependency. A brief check of what is settled and what remains uncertain can prevent an expanding plan from making its unfinished foundation harder to address.
When to use it
Use it when the next commitment relies on an earlier step that is not yet secure.
Keep in mind
Independent tasks may proceed together; identify a real dependency rather than imposing needless delay.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English