If it is not broken, don’t fix it.
If it is not broken, don’t fix it.
Meaning in plain English
The saying discourages repairing something that is not broken. It questions changing a working arrangement without a clear reason.
Example
A team asks what an alteration would improve before changing a functioning process.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Broken sets a threshold but does not define every worthwhile improvement. A qualified application can avoid unnecessary intervention while recognising preventive maintenance and changed needs. The phrase does not prove a system satisfactory simply because it has not visibly failed.
When to use it
Use it to examine the reason for a change, including future needs.
Keep in mind
A working arrangement may still need maintenance or improvement.
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 225; PDF page 36
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