A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

1. The things we already have are more valuable than the things we only hope to get.

More About A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush

What does a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush mean?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is a proverb that means the things we currently have are worth a lot more than the things we have a chance of getting.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is often used as advice or a warning for a person who is making risky decisions or is about to risk a lot over an unknown outcome. The proverb says that the things you already own are far more valuable to you than things you hope to get because you may never actually get them.

Example: I told Mia that she should walk away with her big winnings rather than go double or nothing. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush! 

Where does a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush come from?

The first records of a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush come from around 1689. It’s a variation on an older English proverb, better one bird in the hand than ten in the wood.

The proverb compares birds in two different situations. “A bird in the hand” could refer to either a dead bird you intend to eat or a trained bird (such as a falcon or eagle) that can help you with whatever you need it to do. “Two in the bush” refers to wild birds that are perched in the branches of a bush. The wild birds don’t belong to you and will very likely fly away and escape if you try to get them.

Even though the bush has more birds, those birds are worth nothing if you never actually get them. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is used to metaphorically compare a safe or stable situation with a riskier one.

Did you know … ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? 

• bird
• hand
• worth
• two
• bush

What are some words that often get used in discussing a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?

• risk
• gamble
• safe
• value
• pie in the sky

How is a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush used in real life?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush is a very well-known proverb that means the things you already have are more valuable than things you might get. It is so famous that people often make their own variations of it or joke about its meaning.

I wonder if the person who first said "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" ever stopped to consider that the birds in the bush might be younger and cost less against the salary cap.

— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) May 27, 2021

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush which is why I always eat thanksgiving dinner in a hedge

— Bill Hanstock (@sundownmotel) November 29, 2013

I earn enough money but I think I could much more. However it's great risk to look for a better job nowadays. So, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

— Vlad (@Vlad01440156) March 25, 2021

Try using a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

True or False?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush means that taking risky bets is a part of life.