A stitch in time saves nine

Meaning

A small effort made at the right time might save a calamity later on.

Examples

Fixing that frayed rope was a real stitch in time. It would probably have snapped when the wind got up later if we hadn’t.

Where did it originate?

The United Kingdom. A very old proverb.

Where is it used?

In use worldwide, but less commonly than before and mainly by the older generation.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

A stitch in time saves nine