Re: A stitch in time saves nine

Posted by ESC on September 09, 1999

In Reply to: A stitch in time saves nine"WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?" posted by Michelle on September 09, 1999

: My 3rd grader needs to know what this phrase means so she can write a story based on it`s meaning. HELP!
: I have looked all over the internet and have found meanings for just about every saying BUT this one. If someone knows where I can find the meaning please post ASAP or better yet feel free to e-mail me.
: THANKS! : )

"A stitch in time saves nine. If you deal with problems immediately, when they first appear, you will save yourself a lot of money and trouble after. This adage is listed in the 1732 Thomas Fuller's book of proverbs, and was first cited in the United States in the 1787 'Journal of Tour of North America in 1796-1791' by Francis Bally (1774-1844). The word 'nine' was introduced for assonance." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman.

Assonance means "nine" sounds good in the phrase, I reckon.

Basically, the proverb means if you sew up your hem when it first starts to unravel, it's not a big problem. If you wait and don't take care of it, the whole hem will come undone. THEN you'll have a lot of stitching to do.