proverb · Words worth keeping
It never goes well when the hen crows.
It never goes well when the hen crows.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying treats a crowing hen as a sign that things will go badly. A critical reading notices the negative judgment attached to an animal taking an unexpected role.
Example
Readers examine whether a story uses the animal image to criticise a woman’s authority and question that assumption.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Never goes well makes the omen absolute without specifying the outcome. If applied to human authority, the hen image can support a gendered expectation that needs questioning rather than endorsement. The literal wording does not identify a specific household event or verify that a crow predicts trouble. A responsible explanation keeps those limits visible.
When to use it
Use it critically to examine an unfavourable omen and possible gendered analogy.
Keep in mind
Neither animal behaviour nor gender establishes that an outcome must be bad.
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