ENGLISH
REFERENCE

look before you leap

idiom
Meaning

Take only calculated risks


Origin

first recorded 16th c.

From Aesop's fable of the fox and the goat; the English proverb appears in John Heywood's proverb collection (1546).

Examples
SIMPLE

Always look before you leap when you start a new business.

CONTEXTUAL

You should check the contract carefully before signing it because it is always better to look before you leap.

COMPLEX

While the investment opportunity seems profitable, a wise person will look before they leap by researching the company's financial history first.

Last updated June 7, 2026