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Wer nicht übt, verliert

/veːɐ̯ nɪçt yːpt fɛɐ̯ˈliːɐ̯t/
proverb★Intermediate— practice or lose your skills◆proverb
◆ What It Really Means
The idea that skills or abilities will deteriorate if not regularly practiced, and that consistent effort is necessary to maintain proficiency.
¶ Literal Meaning
Who does not practice, loses.
Literal Breakdown
WerWho+nicht übtdoes not practice+verliertloses
◇ Mental Image
The mental image of a person who stops practicing and gradually loses their skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous effort.
◈ When to Use
A coach might say this to a team that has been slacking off, reminding them that their skills will decline if they don't keep practicing.
◉ Cultural Note
This proverb reflects the German cultural value of diligence and the belief that consistent effort is necessary to achieve and maintain success in various fields.
informal

A proverb emphasizing that skills or abilities deteriorate if not regularly practiced, and that consistent effort is necessary to maintain proficiency.

Wer nicht übt, verliert - das gilt besonders für Musiker.

Practice or lose it - this especially applies to musicians.

Im Sport ist es wichtig, regelmäßig zu trainieren, denn wer nicht übt, verliert.

In sports, it's important to train regularly, because you lose it if you don't practice.

💡

This proverb is often used to motivate people to keep practicing their skills, whether in sports, music, languages, or other areas.

Synonyms

Related Phrases

Übung macht den Meisterproverb
Practice makes perfect
Ohne Fleiß kein Preisproverb
No pain, no gain

💡Pro Tip

Motivational Use

This proverb is often used to encourage someone to keep practicing, especially when they feel discouraged or lazy.

⚡Gold Rule

Contextual Appropriateness

Use this proverb in situations where you want to emphasize the importance of practice in maintaining or improving skills.

📖Word Origin

The phrase is a traditional German proverb that reflects the cultural value placed on diligence and continuous effort. It is often used in educational and professional contexts to encourage regular practice.

📝Usage Notes

This proverb is commonly used in both formal and informal settings to emphasize the importance of practice in maintaining or improving skills. It is particularly relevant in fields like sports, music, and language learning.

Word Breakdown

Wer
who
pronoun
+
nicht übt
does not practice
verb phrase
+
verliert
loses
verb
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

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