Eile mit Weile

/ˈaɪlə mɪt ˈvaɪlə/
take it easy

Bei der Arbeit solltest du Eile mit Weile angehen.

You should take it easy at work.

◆ What It Really Means
To proceed with patience and carefulness, avoiding unnecessary haste.
Literal Meaning
Haste with patience
Literal Breakdown
Eilehaste+mitwith+Weilepatience
◇ Mental Image
A person carefully and patiently working through a task, avoiding the temptation to rush.
◈ When to Use
A manager advising a team to take their time on a project to ensure quality rather than rushing to meet a deadline.
◉ Cultural Note
This phrase reflects the German cultural value of thoroughness and precision, often prioritizing quality over speed.
informal

To approach a task or situation with patience and carefulness, avoiding unnecessary haste.

Lass uns Eile mit Weile machen, damit wir keine Fehler machen.

Let's take it easy so we don't make any mistakes.

Eile mit Weile ist besser als Hast und Fehler.

Taking it easy is better than rushing and making mistakes.

This phrase emphasizes the importance of patience and thoroughness over speed.

Related Phrases

Alles hat seine Zeitproverb
Everything has its time

Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this phrase when advising someone to slow down or when explaining why patience is important.

Gold Rule

Contrast of Meaning

The phrase plays on the contrast between 'Eile' (haste) and 'Weile' (patience), emphasizing the importance of balance.

Word Origin

The phrase combines 'Eile' (haste) and 'Weile' (a while, patience), creating a contrast that highlights the value of patience.

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to advise against rushing and to encourage careful, deliberate action.

Word Breakdown

Eile
haste, hurry
root
+
mit
with
preposition
+
Weile
patience, a while
root
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