a stitch in time saves nine

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

Fixing a small problem early prevents a much bigger one later.

Why this phrase?

One stitch on a small tear avoids sewing many later.

Example

“Service the boiler now; a stitch in time saves nine.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

better late than never Neutral · CEFR A2

Doing something after a delay is better than not doing it at all.

the early bird catches the worm Neutral · CEFR B1

Those who act promptly have the best chance of success.

make hay while the sun shines Neutral · CEFR B2

to take advantage of favourable conditions while they last

actions speak louder than words Neutral · CEFR B1

What you do matters more than what you say.

don't judge a book by its cover Neutral · CEFR B1

appearances can be misleading, so assess things properly

every cloud has a silver lining Neutral · CEFR B1

Every difficult situation has some hopeful or positive aspect.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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