leave well enough alone

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English

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈliːv ˈwɛl ɪˌnʌf əˈləʊn/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

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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.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

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Translations

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See also

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