семь раз отмерь, один отрежь

Russian

Etymology

Literally, "measure seven times, cut off once" (e.g. when tailors cut cloth).

Alternative forms

• семь раз отме́рь, оди́н раз отре́жь (semʹ raz otmérʹ, odín raz otréžʹ)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [sʲemʲ ras ɐtˈmʲerʲ | ɐˈdʲin ɐˈtrʲeʂ]

Proverb

1. look before you leap, better safe than sorry, to measure thrice and cut once, second thoughts are best