if it ain't broke, don't fix it

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Attested since at least the 1970s, originally Southern United States English; popularized by T. Bert Lance in May 1977.[1]

Proverb[edit]

if it ain't broke, don't fix it

  1. Leave something alone; avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).
    I know it’s an ugly-looking antenna, but it gets the job done, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Synonyms[edit]

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Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gary Martin (1997–), “If-it-aint-broke-dont-fix-it”, in The Phrase Finder.