Don't measure the drapes before you win the election.
measure the drapes
idiomTo make premature or unwarranted preparations for victory, especially election to public office.
Origin
first recorded 20th c.After the election of a new President of the United States, the decor of the White House is changed to reflect the taste of the new administration. Historically the task has been left to the First Lady, the wife of the President. During the 1940 campaign for President, Senator Robert Taft of Ohio sought the Republican Party nomination. His wife, Martha Taft, gave an interview to the Evening Independent of St. Petersburg, Florida, in which she expressed certainty of his victory: * 1940 February 19, Evening Independent, page 11: Martha Taft is sure that "Bob is going to get it." She is ready to answer questions in regular stump style, though she refuses to say whether she will change the drawing-room drapes in the White House. Since Taft won neither the general election nor his party's nomination, the idea of "measuring the drapes" for installation in the White House became a metaphor for premature preparation for victory, or over-confidence.
The candidate started measuring the drapes, but the voters chose his opponent instead.
Although the polls looked promising, his team warned him against measuring the drapes until the final votes were officially counted.
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in no small measure
To a very great extent.
- 02
last full measure
A person's life, when lost through death in service to a nation or cause, particularly as a member of a military force in war or a semi-militarized organization such as a police force or civil defense corps, e.g. fire departments. May also be applied to some dangerous government and civil occupations such as espionage.
- 03
measure swords with
To match one's abilities against an antagonist's.
- 04
measure up
To meet expectations; to be as good as.