leave well enough alone

• IPA^(key): /ˈliːv ˈwɛl ɪˌnʌf əˈləʊn/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

leave well enough alone (third-person singular simple present leaves well enough alone, present participle leaving well enough alone, simple past and past participle left well enough alone)

1. To leave something alone; to avoid trying to correct, fix, or improve what is already adequate.

   Synonym: leave well alone

   We should have left well enough alone when we had it working the first time.

The usual form of the expression in the UK is leave well alone.

• if it ain't broke, don't fix it
• let well enough alone

• over-egg the pudding
• perfect is the enemy of good