don't count your chickens

English

Alternative forms

Proverb

don't count your chickens

  1. Ellipsis of don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
    • 1942, Thomas Armstrong, chapter 3, in Dover Harbour, London: Collins […], →OCLC, section 4, page 528:
      “We’ve started now,” the hot-heads crowed. “’Twon’t be long ’fore we’ve got Nappy on the run from end to end of the Continent.” / “Don’t count your chickens,” the wise retorted. “’Tis mightily encouraging, but the greatest military power on earth ain’t likely to throw in his hand because an odd battle has gone agin’ him.”
    • 1961, Jesse L[ouis] Lasky Jr., chapter 4, in Naked in a Cactus Garden, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., →LCCN, →OCLC, page 75:
      Only the inexperience of a Will Dorman would leap to conclusions. / “Want a word of advice, Will? Don’t count your chickens. The wardrobe sketches for Lucretia have already been approved by Rex. I’m starting fittings on Monday.” / “I’ll admit I’m not used to backing winners, but this time I’ve got my money on the nose. It’s Show Folks On The River, by two lengths, Laurette.”
    • 1975, Scott Howell, chapter 7, in Passage to Oblivion, London: Robert Hale & Company […], →ISBN, page 80:
      “They do not know we have landed on Earth,” Mardan cried gleefully. “All thanks to you, Mel Prather . . .” / “Don’t count your chickens,” the farmer remarked, failing to make sense to them. “In any case,” Prather went on, “you have no reason to fear the police or anybody else unless you have criminal or treasonous leanings. You promise that you haven’t, folks?”
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