proverb · Words worth keeping
It's not over till it's over.
It's not over till it's over.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying repeats that an event is not over until it ends. It cautions against treating an unfinished situation as a settled result.
Example
A group labels an interim result provisional while continuing the work needed to finish.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The apparent repetition gives emphasis to remaining uncertainty. A useful application distinguishes a likely outcome from a final one without promising a reversal. Decisions may still need to use the best available information before everything is complete.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish a forecast from a final outcome.
Keep in mind
An unfinished situation does not guarantee change or require postponing every decision.
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