Haste makes waste

1. Acting too quickly may actually slow things down.

Idioms and Phrases

Proceeding too quickly can spoil an enterprise, as in Stop trying to rush through three things at once—haste makes waste, you know . This rhyming warning, first recorded in this exact form in 1575, was in John Ray's 1678 proverb collection, where the full text was: “Haste makes waste, and waste makes want, and want makes strife between the goodman and his wife.”

More About Haste Makes Waste

What does haste makes waste mean?

Haste makes waste means that rushing things leads to mistakes or poor results.

The word waste is used to refer to such results. The result of working too fast might be that you end up having to throw out what you’ve done and start over.

The word haste most commonly refers to urgency, such as in completing a task. It can also be used as another word for speed or swiftness, as in We have to move with haste if we want to make it on time. This is how the word is used in the phrase make haste, which means to move quickly, hurry up, or rush.

Very often, though, haste means urgency or speed that is careless or reckless. This is how the word is used in haste makes waste. 

The adjective form hasty is most often used in this sense—a hasty decision is one that is thought to have been made too quickly, perhaps leading to negative consequences. The adverb form hastily is used to imply the same thing.

Example: Slow down and do it properly—haste makes waste, my friend.

Where does haste makes waste come from?

The first records of the phrase haste makes waste in that exact form come from the 1500s. It may originate from part of a longer proverb: “Haste makes waste, and waste makes want, and want makes strife between the goodman and his wife.”

Although most people haven’t heard this full expression, the phrase haste makes waste is commonly used by itself. It’s typically used when telling someone to slow down to avoid making mistakes or doing sloppy work.

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with haste? 

• haste
• hasty
• hastily
• make
• waste
• make haste

What are some words that often get used in discussing haste?

• slow down
• hurry
• rush
• careless
• reckless
• mistake

How is haste makes waste used in real life?

Haste makes waste is typically used in the context of telling someone to slow down because they are going to produce sloppy work.

Do not rush into anything, take some time to think about it properly because haste makes waste.

— OLU = .Ol'seun Slim { (@slimbugz) December 11, 2020

Haste makes waste. Fast #CostReductions now can have big consequences later. Lessen the risk with #strategic thinking. https://t.co/aTs29PJ6Fz

— Kristen 🇺🇸 (@KristenTurzak) December 11, 2020

You know how they say haste makes waste? (and it does, it's true)

So does trying to do too much at once. Multitasking for the fail.

— Amber DeGrace (@amberdegrace) January 28, 2020

 

 

Try using haste makes waste!

What does the word haste mean in haste makes waste?

A. attention to detail
B. thoroughness
C. rushing
D. slowness