Proverbs and Idioms

No one knows for certain who first uttered the words that would become proverbs and idioms. However, these words reflect
experiences and emotions that everyone, at one point or another, has experienced in their lives. As time passed, these proverbs
became a thread that, within a culture, conveys these lifes common experiences emotions.
There are over 25000 proverbs in the Korean Culture. Full of wit and wisdom, with perhaps a side of sarcasm or biting humor, these
proverbs and idioms are a lively way of conveying a situation or passing down a pearl of wisdom without the need for additional
explanation. These proverbs are, effectively, a picture drawn with words (after all, a picture is worth a thousand words). And,
within these proverbs lie the life lessons and experiences that help us realize what the human experience is.
Practice makes perfect, and like all things worth achieving, using these proverbs does take practice.
In our modern era, the use of these proverbs and idioms has been on the decline. For one, many of these proverbs or idioms reflect
situations from a bygone era (is there a time where you truly had a bird in hand?). The lack of value placed in a well rounded
vocabulary is, perhaps, also to blame. Whatever the reasons are the decline, it is still worth taking the time and effort. But, as iron
sharpens iron, with continued usage of these proverbs, one can sharpen his writing, reading, and speaking skills.

, ,
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, .
25,000
. . .
, . ,

 , , ,
.
,
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.
.
. .

.
.
. .
. .
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.
.

How to use these proverbs correctly and effectively

When using proverbs in writing, one must keep in mind the context and the situation where it will be used. With that in mind, these
four tips will help you in picking the right proverb for your prose.
1.

Think about the situation that you are writing about.

2.

Once you have thought about that situation, think about the proverb you are going to use.

Pick the correct voice that fits the situation. For example, if youre writing a factual based prose, you may want to consider a
more professional voice in your writing. However, it is up to you to pick the tone that will convey your voice properly.
3.

4.

With those three things in mind, complete the prose and see how it fits.

, .
2.

3.

. , , ,
, , .
4.

,
.
5.

No. Korean Proverb

Literal Translation

English Equivalent Note

and similar proverbs
and sayings

A close friend is better than a Joy and sorrow are next door
distant relative. Near neighbor neighbors. Water afar off

,
is better than a distant cousin. does not quench fire. (Does .
A good neighbor is better than not put out a fire.)
a brother far off.

( Todays my lucky day! That is It never rains but pours.

purely coincidental. As luck When it rains, it pours.
)
would have it.

A bird in the hand is worth

two in the bush.

,
.

What goes around, comes

Do as you would be done by.
around. Scratch my back, and If I help you, you should help
I'll scratch yours. You get
me.
what you deserve.

Departure day happened to be

market day. (coincidence)

What you already have is

more valuable than what you .
dont possess.


.

To scratch where it itches- to

take great care to make a
person/ situation comfortable.
Scattered beans grow in the
midst of a drought.

The tree with many branches

doesnt sleep. The worries of
the parents with many
children never leave them. A
mother with a large brood has
not even one day of peace.
There is no rest for a family
(mother) with many children.

Possession is nine tenths

[points] of the law.

10

11

Siblings mean theyre on

your side. There is no friend .
like a brother (sibling).
To stick to both liver and gall To stick your nose in where
bladder.
it doesnt belong; that is none
of your business.

12

To be so far from the results

that you desire; havent even
sent notice to your liver that
there is no food in sight.

13

Your liver is as small as

beans, youre so fearful!

14

15

The more we forge ahead, the To take on more than you

bigger the mountain looms. can handle.
Jump/Leap out of the frying
pan into the fire.

He will shave a whetstone.

.
16

Like pouring new wine into .

old wineskins.
Use sparingly, even when
Be careful with your

things seem as abundant as a resources, to be frugal.

river.
.

17

18

If the price is the same,

choose the one with better
quality, not more quantity.

19

Narrowly gathered, widely

spent.

20

Thinks only of his being a

frog and forgets his once

having been a tadpole.

It is quality that counts, not

quantity (amount).

, ,

.
It is old cow's notion that
she never was a calf.
.
The mother-in-law doesn not
remember that she was once
a daughter-in-law.

21

Its the things we are

interested in that jump out at
us and catch our attention.

22

Do not back him into a

corner.

23

24

25

(:

The early bird gets the worm .

Even a dog recognizes its

owner.

Dont bite the hand that

feeds you.

Horse shoe for a dogs feet.

26

27

28

Like a dragon from the gutter, A diamond in the rough.

a great person who comes
From rags to riches.
from a poor background.
Lets sell even our worries an expression to mock
busybodies.
As dirty as a beggars shoes.

29

A sound mind in a sound

body.

30

Until you are old and gray.

When your black hair turns
white like the top of a green
onion.

31

Never judge by appearances. Don`t judge a book by its

cover.
Appearances are deceptive.
Beauty is skin deep. All is
not gold that glitters.

32

To eat in the blink of an eye.

33

Like throwing a stone into a

The little guy suffers
pond, the ripples spread out .
consequences from the
conflict of stronger forces, as to a larger area.
the back of a shrimp explodes
during a whale fight.

34

35

There is hope and happiness at The light at the end of the

the end of suffering.
tunnel. Every cloud has a
silver lining.
April Showers bring May
flowers. No cross, no crown.
No sweat, no sweet. No
reward without toil. No pain,
no gain.
Nothing ventured, nothing
gained.
Even a hedgehog thinks her The crow thinks her own
babies are soft and sleek.
baby bird the fairest.

36

To reject what you are

naturally drawn to, as a cat
staying away from a mouse.

,
.

37

38

39

.
A trouble shared is a trouble
split in half.
It takes one to know one.

To share a burden makes the

burden lighter.
.
You understand in others
what you have experienced
yourself.

,
.

40

As grains ripen, they bow

their headsthe greater a
person you become, the more
humble you become.

41

Pockmarks look like dimples.

42

Hard work always produces

good results.

To have two strings to ones

bow.
.

43

To teach a fish how to

swim.

To teach a dog how to bark. .

44

You dont know what youve You dont appreciate how

good you had it until the
got until youve lost it.
situation changes and gets
harder.

45

You must forge ahead with a

project without fearing the
small bothersome things that
may result from trying to
achieve your goal.

46

47

48

49

.


.

Look at the big picture - the

end result is worth the
.
smaller details that are
irritating.

A rolling stone gathers no

moss.

Pearls are not valuable until

they are strung together.
There's many things fall
`twixt/between the cup and the
lip.
Nothing to give a relation but
sufficient for a thief to take.

Spare the rod and spoil the

child.

, .

.

50

.

.

51

Necessity is the mother of

invention.

52

53

(Dont upset the current

situation or it may get worse.)

A pie in the sky.

Later on, you will get your
reward.
Let sleeping dogs lie.

54

Even the most beautiful

landscape is not enjoyed by
the hungry.

55

56

57

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

A loaf of bread is better than

the song of many birds.
.
Haste makes waste.
before you leap.

More haste less speed.

Look

Haste makes waste.

. ,
.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

58

59

60

61

62

63

Dont count your chickens

before they hatch. To sell the
bear's skin before it has been
caught.
Judge right or wrong with
objective standards; you cant
compare lengths without
putting them next to each
other.
How could you be so
forgetful?
Have you been eating black
crows to be blacking out so
much?
An evil deed repeated over
time is bound to be
discovered; a long tail is
bound to be stepped on.
Use a chicken instead of a
pheasant.

The pitcher goes so often to

the well that it is broken at .
last.
If you can't get a horse, ride a ,
cow.
.
Kill two birds with one
stone.

64

I dislike to eat it and yet am

stingy about giving it to the
dog.

.
,

65

66

( )

Those whom the gods love,

die young.
.

Time flees away without

delay.

67

A falling drop at last will

cave a stone.

68

To be jealous about what

The grass is greener on the
someone else has and to want other side of the fence.
.
it.
Our neighbor's cow yields
more milk than ours.

69

Dont get involved in other

peoples affairs.

70

To be illiterate and ignorant; He cannot say B to a

to see a sickle and not
battledore.
recognize the letter .

71

72

Drop by drop fills the tub.

Many drops make a shower. , .

Mind your own business.

Birds overhear your daytime Walls have ears.

conversations, mice overhear Pitchers have ears.
what you say at night.

A bird in the hand is worth

two in the bush.
,

73

My cousin sings my song.

74

One father can support the

children, but children can not
support one father.

.

.

75

Nothing could be simpler- its Childrens play. As easy as

as easy as pie (or as easy as rolling off a log. Its like
falling off a log.
eating lying down).

76

Cut off your nose to spite your Chickens come home to

,
face. He that blows in the dust roost. Spit in the wind. What .
fills his own eyes.
goes around, comes around.
You reap what you sow.
The bigger they are, the
harder they fall.

77

78

79

80

The cat that ate the canary.

The world is a dangerous

place; close your eyes and
your nose could get cut off!
Thorn in the side.
Thorn in one's side/flesh.
Frost on the top of snow.

.
,
.

81

One is apt to become overly

engrossed in work. A hobby

begun late in life.

.

.

82

83

Sweet gets swallowed, but

bitter gets spat out.
Utilize a person when their
service is needed, but keep
him at a distance when it is
not.
To cover your tracks, e.g. to
catch and eat a chicken, only

to deny it by producing a
ducks foot as your alibi.

85

To be up a blind alley, or at a
dead end. To be on the wrong
track.
The dog that chased the
chicken can only look up at
the roof the house.

86

Who is worse shod than the

shoemaker's wife?

84

Every tide must have its ebb.

The shoemakers children go

barefoot.
.

87

88

()

When you owe a lot of debt,

youre stuck like a kite caught
in a tree.

.
.

89

Even burglary requires good

teamwork for success.
Harmonious cooperation is
everything in accomplishing
something.

90

A thief has a bad conscience A guilty conscience needs

and is apt to give himself
no accuser.
away.

91

, Discipline and sense of honor

are important in any
teamwork.

92

When youre unlucky,

everything goes wrong for

you.
Virtue is more important than There is nothing like a
,
anything else for a woman.
virtuous woman.

93

Many hands make light

work. (Many people working
together make the work

easier to accomplish!)
.


.
.

,

.

94

A mouse in a mousetrap, there A rat in a trap.

is no way out.
Caught like a deer in
.
headlights. Caught with your
hand in the cookie jar.

95

Money begets money.

96

Money makes the mare to go. A golden key opens every

door.

97

98

99

100

Dont even cross a stone

Look before you leap.
bridge without first checking Better safe than sorry.
its sturdiness by hitting it.
Proceed cautiously, even
when things look safe.

.

.
.

An early prick means it will

be a strong thorn.
.
To be so busy you are here,
there and everywhere, like
flashes of lightning moving
from east to west.
Giving a peck and getting a
bushel.

To sow the wind and reap the

whirlwind.
.

101

102

Cast/Throw pearls before

swine.
Dont waste your efforts on
people who do not appreciate
it.
Vegetables fit for use are
recognized by the small
sprout.

Cast not your pearls before

swine. Don't cast pearls
before swine.

,
.

As the twig is bent, so

grows the tree. You will
.
know a good tree by the fruit
it bares.

103

Absence makes the heart grow

fonder.

104

Even a sweet song sung too

much, becomes disagreeable.

105

106

Ignorance is bliss.

Swimming while touching the Its a piece of cake!

ground.

.

?
.

107

108

To make the most of a

situation.

.
The pot calls the kettle black.

.

109
,

Dont count your chickens ,

before they are hatched.

.

110

Dont judge a book by its

cover.

111

Theres always someone

Diamonds cut diamonds.

better than you, so dont brag. There may be blue and better .
blue.
The fox knows much, but
more he that catches him.

112 ( () He cleaves the clouds.

Building a castle in the air.

. .

113

A farewell that comes very

soon after meeting.

114

Greed has no limits. The

appetite grows with what it
feeds on.
A soft answer turns away
wrath. Good words cost
nothing.

115
.

.
, ,
, ,
.

116

Pay now, play later.

The devil take the hindmost.

117

If you boil the head, the ears

will be cooked.

118
( )

.
Every flow has its ebb.

.
,

.

119 , Daughters in law love fathers

in law; sons in law love

mothers in law.
120
A cornered stone meets the
masons chisel.

121

.
. .

All is well that ends well.

122 ,

123

Ignorance is bliss.

I must work to keep my head

above water.

,

.
.

124

125

Good medicine tastes bitter.

No news is good news.

.
126

127

To bite the hand that feeds

you. Dont look a gift horse .
in the mouth.
Give someone an inch and
theyll take a mile.

.

A drowning man will catch at

a straw. A drowning man
plucks at a straw.

128 ,

Appearances are deceptive.

.

.

129

One rotten apple spoils the

barrel.

130 Love your enemies. Do good Kill your enemy with

to those who hate you.
kindness. Spare the rod and .
spoil the child.

131

Stabbed in the back. Bite the

hand that feeds you.
. (
)

132

To go together like needle and

thread.

133

He that will steal a pin will

steal an ox. One lie makes
many.
News travels fast. Rumors
spread like wildfire.

134
135

136
137 ,

.
Once a use, forever a habit.

Words and feathers the wind .

carries away.
Repeated small irregularities .
lead to serious consequences
[trouble].

To blame others for ones own Get angry at others for ones .
shortcomings or mistakes.
own mistakes..
Beggars must not be choosers.

?
.

138

To see is to believe. A
picture is worth a thousand
words.

139

To take more than you can use My mouth is bigger than my

stomach. His eyes are bigger .
or can eat.
than his stomach.

140

,

.

Two heads are better than one.

Many hands make light work.

141 To act quickly/ promptly, as in Quick at meat, quick at

eating beans fried from
work.
lightning.

142

The boughs that bear most

hang lowest.

143

He that has no shame has no No shame, no honor.

conscience.

Smooth waters run deep.

144

Cant squeeze blood from a

turnip.

145

Names and natures often

agree.

146

Salt even on the kitchen shelf No mill, no meal. If you

has
to
be
added
to
give
the
dont work, you dont eat. ,
(
flavor.
/

)

147
.
.

Come empty, return empty.

148

Empty wagons make most

A barking dog never bites.
noise. Empty vessels make the Big talk means little
most sound.
knowledge.

The greatest talkers are the

least doers.
149

150 ,

(
)

151
(

A tree with beautiful blossoms Appearances can be

does not always yield the best deceiving.
fruit.
One beats the bush, and
another catches the birds.
One sows the seed, another
waters, another harvest.

As a man sows and another

reaps.

Garbage in, garbage out.

Too many cooks spoil the

broth.

,
.
.

152

153

A fierce dogs nose has no

time to heal.

, .

154

Seek to live in such a way that

after you die, you leave a
great reputation/ legacy for the
next generations.

155

,

.

156

157

Turning green with envy.

Necessity known no law.

158

Can spider web grow in a

living mans throat.

159

It is just a drop in the bucket.

160

.

,

Every day brings its bread

with it.
,

.
.
Seldom comes a better
opportunity.

161

The sparrow near a school

sings the primer. A saint's
maid quotes Latin. As the
old cock crows, the young
cock learns.

162 A bad workman always

blames his tools.

163
164

( )

A little knowledge (learning)

is a dangerous thing.

Habits formed at 3 will go on Whats learned in the cradle
.
till youre 80.
is carried to the grave.
Habit is second nature. A
leopard cannot change his
spots.

165

Time flies (like an

arrow).Time passes like the
(
.
/ ): wind. Time and tide wait for
no man.
166
Time is the great healer. Time Time tames the greatest grief.
cures everything. Time heals Years bring wisdom.

all sorrows.
Time heals all wounds.
167 ()

Wasting your breath talking

because nobody is listening.

Talking to the wall.

168

He who has eaten salt drinks

water. Salt makes a person
thirsty.

169

The fool will catch his own

chicken, causing only himself
loss.
Too little, too late, like fixing Behind the fair.
the barn after your cow runs After death, to call the
away.
doctor.
It is too late to lock the stable
when the horse has been
stolen.
Its best to finish what you
Strike while the iron is hot.
start right away.
He who hesitates is
lost. Opportunity seldom
knocks twice.
A fox is not taken twice in
the same snare. Good luck
does not always repeat itself.

170
( )

171

172 One hand finds it hard to

It takes two to tango.
applaud. It takes two people

to do certain activities.

,
.
.

.
.

173 [The lazy person] tries to blow

his nose without touching

it. [The lazy person] waits for

(
a ripe persimmon to fall by
)
lying under the tree. These
sayings refer to the
expectation of great results
while putting in no effort. No
work happens on its own
while you do nothing. If you
want good results, you need to
put in as much effort as the
greatness of the results you
wish to see.
174 He bit off more than he can He bit off more than he can
chew.
chew.

. .
.

.
. .

175

You cant work on an empty Without bread and wine,

stomach.
even love will pine.

176

Easily gotten goods are soon Ill-gotten gains are soon

spent.
spent.

177

Time is money.

178

Getting started is half the

Well begun is half done.
work. The beginning is half of
the whole.

179

Hunger is the best sauce.

180

As easy as rolling off a log.

Piece of cake.

( )

181

Hunger makes hard bones

sweet beans.

To get so caught up in fun that

you lose track of where your
work is (eg. your axe handle is
rotting).

182

Failure is but a stepping

stone to success.

183 When the hard work of a

decade is gone like one day in
a flash.
184 Even the mountains change in
10 years.
185

You get what you pay for.

Cheapest is dearest.

186

.
.

.
(: . Ilisha
elongate (Bennett),Chinese herring, Slender shad, Hira)

187

Whats done is done.

188

Like father, like son.

A chip off the old block.

189

Knowledge is power.

190

Evil spirit of the day light.

191

192 ? No smoke without fire.

Everything is obvious in the

light of day.
.

Love me, love my dog.

.
.

193

195

When it rains, it pourswhen

things go wrong, even
unexpected things go wrong to
add insult to injury.
You cant even drink cold
water in front of a child, they
notice everything!
Out of sight, out of mind.

196

It is a sad house when the hen

crows louder than the cock.

.
.

197

Its best to do something

yourself even if its difficult.

198

Whoever helps you in your

time of need or trouble is a
true friend.

194

.


.

A friend in need is a friend

indeed.

199

It is within a stone's throw.

200

Its no use crying over spilt .

milk
What's done cannot be
undone.

201

Adding insult to injury.

It never rains but it pours.

202
Three women make a market. .

203 The deep sea can be fathomed,
,
but
who
knows
the
hearts
of
?

men

.
204

(
)

205

Little strokes fell great oaks. If at first you dont succeed, .

try, try again.
A faint heart never won a
lady.
Even 10 guards cannot stop a
burglar.

206 If you hurt one finger, all the

other fingers hurt with it.

i.e. no matter how many kids
you have, they are all equally
important to their parents.
All my ten fingers hurt alike if
I bite them. Every child is
dear to his parents.

.

.

207

To ignore ones duties, but to

put great care into other areas
of selfish interest.

,
.

208

Soft words beget soft words.

Scratch my back, and I'll
scratch yours.
Don't put off today's work
until tomorrow.

A tree you can not climb do

not bother to look up cat.

211

A miss is as good as a mile.

212

Fine clothes make the man.

The tailor makes the man.

213

Nothings perfecteven jade Straight trees have crooked

has dust on it.
roots.

209

210

214

(
)

215

Fine feathers make fine birds. ,

Better to be a dogs head

than to be a lions tail.

Who gives milk to a child that The squeaky wheel gets the
is not crying?
oil.
,
.

216

A frog in the well knows

nothing of the great ocean.

217

218

A big fish in a little pond. Its

easy to be famous in a small
community.
To seek hot water under cold .
ice.
.

Though you dig a well, dig

but one well.

219

A rolling stone gathers no

.
moss. One cannot have one's
cake and eat it. Dont forget
your first resolution.
Face the music.

220

Calm voice and words is

contagious in the face of
anothers anger.

221

If you laugh, blessing will

come your way.

222

223

A soft answer turns away

wrath.

,
.

The fish always stinks from

the head downwards.
.
Meeting ones enemy you
single log bridge.

224

225
226

A monkey sometimes falls

Even Homer sometimes

from the tree.
nods.

No one is perfect all the time. A good marksman may miss.
A horse may stumble though
he has four legs.
According to ones taste.
.
Out of the mouth comes evil.

227

Poking a needle into a

sleeping tiger.

228 ,

A person learns from his

A burnt child dreads the fire.
mistakes and does not repeat

them.

229

There is no such thing as a

little country.

230

Searching for a needle in a

haystack.
Still waters run deep.

231

,
?
.

Little dogs have long tails.

.
.



.

232 ,

233

Might is right.

?
.

Wake not a sleeping lion.

234

One man sows and another

man reaps.

235

Heavy work in youth is quiet

rest in old age.

, .

236

Everyone has his own

standard.

237 ?

A man cant give his bad

habits even to his dog.

238
Blaming one person for the
faults of another.

239 . ( Bitters do good to the
stomach. A good medicine
)
tastes bitter.
240

Go home and kick the dog.

When nothing goes right.

241

To work hard only to benefit

others, like making a stew,
only to have a dog eat it.

242

Finders keepers, loser

weepers.

243

If you can't stand the heat,

get out of the kitchen.

244

Every dog has his day.

It is darkest before the dawn.
. ,
.

245

To seek a mouse hole.

To look for a place to hide,
out of embarrassment.

246

Nobody knows.

247

To not even know the most

trifling things- an ignoramus.

248

Slow and steady wins the race. Diligence makes success.

I
Keep your nose to the
.
grindstone and you will
succeed. Remember the
tortoise and the hare (rabbit).

249

If you step on the earth worm,

he wriggles. Even a worm will
turn.

250

Bad habits follow you

everywhere, as a leaking
gourd leaks both at home and
in the field.

251

Everything has its match.

Every Jack has his Jill.

252

No man goes carelessly by a

place where profit is.

253

Little by little one goes far.

Step by step one goes a long
way.
New clothes are good, but old
friends are the best.

As useless as trying to cut

water with a knife.

.
.

254 ,

255
256

You reap what you sow.

.
There is making no apples of
plums. You cannot make a
silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Youve cried wolf too many :

times.
,
Everyone has a skeleton in
the closet.

257

258

259

A penny saved is a penny

earned. Tall oaks grow
from little acorns. Drop by
drop fills the tub. Many
drops make shower. Many
grains of sand will sink a
ship. Little drops of water
make the mighty ocean.

260

Charity begins at home. The

shirt is nearer than the coat.
You could sell him the
.
Brooklyn Bridge.
,
.

261

262

263

He who runs after two hares

will catch neither.

You may lead a horse to

water, but you cannot make .
him drink.
Children raised in their
parents arms will continue to
treat their parents well as
adults.

264

Family is more loyal than

acquaintances.

265
266

Blood is thicker than water.

Blood will tell.

There is not one grave without

an excuse. Every why has a
wherefore.
See one, know them all. From If youve seen one, youve
one learn all.
seen them all.

268

Overweight people dont

know the sky is high; only that
the ground is broad.

269

When something/ someone

suddenly disappears, you
wonder if theyve gone up to
the sky or under the ground.

270

Even if the sky falls, there will

be a way to overcome. While
there is life, there is hope.

271

One single nights loading

builds the great wall of China.

267

272

A puppy fears not the tiger.

Fools rush in where angels
fear to tread.

273

There is no royal read to

learning.

274

To work so as to sabotage
ones own self, like looking
up into the sky and spitting.
In one ear and out the other.

In one ear and out the other. .

276

When the word is out it

belongs to another.

You cant retrieve your

,
words once they are spoken.

277

You cant get full off of one

spoonful of rice.

Rome was not built in a day.

Great things take a lot of
,
work and time to be
.
accomplished.

278

Throw away like an old shoe.

275

Fools rush in where angels

fear to tread.

.

.

279

280

281

.
, ,
,
.

Any younger brother is not

better than the elder brother.

Nothing ventured, nothing

gained. Glory is the fair child
of peril. He who would

search for pearls must dive
below.
A stitch in time saves nine.

282
.

In the country of the blind,

the one-eyed man is king.
When the cat's away, the
mice will play.

283

.

Live well and live forever.

284 Even a tiger will pass by when Talk of angels, and you will
youre talking about him.
hear their wings. To
.
mention the wolfs name is to
see the same. Talk of the
devil, and he is sure to
appear.
285
Good fortune came out of the
blue.

286

287

288

289

It is not the great coat that

makes the gentleman.
A journey to remove a lump
only added one on to find
loss when one sought profit.
Went to hunt a wild pig and
lost my tame one.
We must encourage good
deeds (like business
negotiations) and discourage
bad ones (like arguments).

The biter is bit. Go for wool .

and come home shorn.
A bird in the hand is worth
two in the bush.

.

.