English [ edit ] Etymology [ edit ] From the practice of mending a small tear in cloth before it becomes a larger one.
Proverb [ edit ] a stitch in time saves nine
A little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later.
A little preparation can eliminate the need for repairs later . Translations [ edit ]
a timely effort can prevent larger problems
Chinese:
Mandarin: 小洞不補，大洞吃苦 小洞不补，大洞吃苦 ( xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dà dòng chīkǔ ) , 防微杜漸 (zh) , 防微杜渐 (zh) ( fángwēidùjiàn ) , 事半功倍 (zh) ( shìbàngōngbèi ) (half the work, twice the effect )
Dutch: werk op tijd maakt welbereid
Finnish: parempi katsoa kuin katua
French: un point fait à temps en épargne cent (fr) , mieux vaut prévenir que guérir (fr)
German: was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen (de)
Greek: κάλλιο γαϊδουρόδενε παρά γαϊδουρογύρευε ( kállio gaïdouródene pará gaïdourogýreve )
Hungarian: a rest kétszer fárad (hu)
Italian: meglio prevenire che curare prevenire è meglio che curare è meglio prevenire che curare
Korean: 호미로 막을 것을 가래로 막는다 (ko) ( homiro mageul geoseul garaero mangneunda ) (what can be stopped up with a short-handled hoe must be done with a shovel later )
