counting chickens
Assuming future success
Counting chickens refers to the proverbial warning against assuming success before it's achieved, from the fable about counting chickens before they hatch.
The full phrase is often truncated when the reference is clear: Don't count your chickens—the deal might still fall through.
Someone counting chickens is making premature plans based on uncertain outcomes.
- putting the cart before the horseReversing proper sequence
- overpromisingPledging more than deliverable
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- pie in the skyUnrealistic hope or plan
- jumping the gunActing before appropriate time
before they hatch · egg · tally · unhatched · hatching eggs · contingency planning · budgeting · goal-setting · nest egg · risk assessment · brooding · strategic thinking · premature · gather · coop · free range · resource allocation · hen
- Assumptionsfalse assumption, stereotypes, generalizations, biases, prejudices
- acting too soonjumping the gun, rushing, hasty decision, false start, impatience
counting chickensbiding one's time
Patiently awaiting opportunity
hedging one's bets · wait and see · playing it safe · keeping one's powder dry · holding off
counting chickensdue diligence
Pre-transaction reasonable care
caution · prudence · circumspection · wariness · realism
counting chickenserring on the side of caution
Preferring safety over risk
count, counting, counts, counted, counter, counters, recount, recounts, recounted