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il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué
/il nə fo pa vɑ̃dʁ la po də l‿uʁs avɑ̃ də l‿avwaʁ tɥe/◆proverb
don't count your chickens before they hatch
Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué, alors attendons les résultats finaux.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch, so let's wait for the final results.
informal
A warning against assuming success before it is achieved, emphasizing the importance of patience and not taking future outcomes for granted.
Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué, car le projet pourrait encore échouer.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch, because the project could still fail.
This proverb is often used to caution against premature celebration or overconfidence.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use this proverb when someone is being overly confident about an uncertain future event or outcome.
Word Origin
This proverb originates from French folklore and hunting culture, where selling the bear's skin before killing the bear would be foolish and risky.
Usage Notes
This expression is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to advise against premature assumptions or actions based on uncertain outcomes.
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais