Idiom B1 Informal

Don't count your chickens

Do not assume or rely on success or good fortune before it has actually happened

Meaning

Don't count your chickens — Do not assume or rely on success or good fortune before it has actually happened. The full form is 'don't count your chickens before they hatch', warning against celebrating too soon.

Origin & History

The phrase comes from Aesop's fable of the milkmaid, who carries a pail of milk on her head and daydreams about all the fine things she will buy once she has sold the eggs and raised the chickens. Lost in her plans, she tosses her head, spills the milk, and loses everything before it ever begins.

Because an egg may never hatch, treating unhatched eggs as if they were already grown chickens is plainly premature. The saying captures this lesson, urging people not to rely on a result, a profit or a piece of luck until it has genuinely arrived. The meaning has stayed steady for centuries.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
We might win the contract, but don't count your chickens before they hatch.Business
She started planning the party before the results came out, counting her chickens too soon.Exam results
You have only reached the semi-final, so don't count your chickens just yet.Sport
He spent the bonus before it was confirmed, and that is counting your chickens.Personal finance
The deal looks promising, but let us not count our chickens before they hatch.Negotiations
Don't count your chickens; the buyer has not signed anything yet.Selling a house

How to Use It

This idiom is informal and works best in conversation and casual writing, usually as friendly advice or a gentle warning. It often appears in the negative imperative, as in don't count your chickens, and can be extended to the full form before they hatch. You may also describe someone as counting their chickens when they assume success too early. Reserve it for situations where a result is hoped for but not yet certain.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

Don't count your eggs before they hatch.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. — The fixed noun is 'chickens', not 'eggs'.

Don't count your chickens before they crack.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. — The fixed verb is 'hatch', not 'crack'.

Don't count the chickens before they hatch.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. — Keep the possessive 'your', not 'the'.

Similar Idioms

Don't put the cart before the horse Hold your horses Don't bank on it Piece of cake All Idioms →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Don't count your chickens" mean?
"Don't count your chickens" means do not assume or rely on success or good fortune before it has actually happened. The full form is 'don't count your chickens before they hatch', warning against celebrating too soon.
Where does the idiom "Don't count your chickens" come from?
The phrase comes from Aesop's fable of the milkmaid, who daydreams about all she will buy from the eggs she is carrying, only to drop them. Because an egg may never hatch, counting unhatched eggs as chickens is premature, and the saying warns against the same mistake.
Can you give an example of "Don't count your chickens" in a sentence?
Here is an example: "You have not signed the contract yet, so don't count your chickens before they hatch." — used to warn someone not to rely on a success that has not yet happened.
Is "Don't count your chickens" formal or informal?
It is informal. It is common in everyday conversation and casual writing as friendly advice, and it appears in journalism, but it is best avoided in formal academic or official writing.
What CEFR level is "Don't count your chickens"?
This idiom is typically taught at B1 level. It is an intermediate expression that learners meet often in everyday speech and stories, and its meaning is easy to remember once the fable is known.
What are common mistakes with "Don't count your chickens"?
A common mistake is changing the animal or verb, such as saying 'don't count your eggs' or 'don't count your chickens before they crack'. The fixed form is 'don't count your chickens before they hatch', and the shorter version simply stops at 'chickens'.
What idioms are similar to "Don't count your chickens"?
Similar idioms include: Don't put the cart before the horse, There's many a slip twixt cup and lip, Don't bank on it, Hold your horses. These all share the idea of not relying on something before it is certain.
How do I practise idioms like "Don't count your chickens"?
LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises are great for practising English idioms. Try writing your own example sentences using the idiom in context, and listen for it in films, podcasts, and conversations.
Can "Don't count your chickens" be used in writing?
Yes, in informal writing, reviews, and journalism. Avoid it in formal academic writing unless you are quoting or discussing the idiom itself. In everyday writing it is a natural and clear choice.
Does "Don't count your chickens" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, "Don't count your chickens" is understood in both British and American English with the same meaning: do not rely on success before it happens. The idiom is widely recognised across all major varieties of English.