Monday, November 29, 2021

"Look before you leap"


Click to see Vol. I, Issue 5 of the newsletter in which this article first appeared.

Proverb: Look before you leap.

  • Samuel Butler phrased it like this in his Hudibras (1684):
    ...look before you ere you leap ["ere" means "before"]
    For, as you sow, you're like to reap.

Meaning: Before you act on a decision, always be prepared for what might happen.

Mini-Dialogue: Jean sees her friend Roy reading some brochures in a coffee shop.

Jean: Hi, Roy. What are you doing?
Roy: I'm thinking about buying a house.
Jean: Well, that's a big commitment. Just look before you leap!


QUESTION:

  1. In which situation would you use the proverb, "Look before you leap"? The correct answer is in the first comment below.
    A. A friend says he's thinking about getting married.
    B. A friend says he got married last week.
    C. A friend says he's never getting married.

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