One does not cross a river without getting wet.
One does not cross a river without getting wet.
Meaning in plain English
The saying makes getting wet part of crossing a river. As a metaphor, it connects undertaking a change with encountering some consequence or inconvenience.
Example
Someone weighs the time a new project will require before deciding whether to begin it.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Without makes the cost seem inseparable from the crossing. A qualified application can ask what a planned undertaking may demand, while refusing to promise that every sacrifice is worthwhile. The phrase is not a river-crossing method or proof that risk must be accepted.
When to use it
Use it to discuss an undertaking’s actual costs rather than promise a reward.
Keep in mind
No water-safety guidance or guaranteed benefit from sacrifice is implied.
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 63; PDF page 13
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