# a stitch in time saves nine

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/a-stitch-in-time-saves-nine
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

Fix the problem now because it will get worse later

## Examples

- Fix that small leak now because a stitch in time saves nine.
- You should repair your car's brakes today, as a stitch in time saves nine and prevents a much more expensive bill later.
- The manager insisted on addressing the minor technical glitch immediately, reminding the team that a stitch in time saves nine when dealing with complex software systems.

## Origin

First recorded in Thomas Fuller's Gnomologia (1732); from sewing — mending a small tear promptly saves nine stitches later.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.