quit while ahead
Leave before losing
To quit while ahead is to stop an activity when you're in a favorable position rather than risk losing your gains by continuing.
The phrase comes from gambling—a player winning at cards or dice might cash out before luck turns: I'm up three hundred dollars; time to quit while I'm ahead.
It applies broadly to any situation where pressing on invites reversal: The negotiation was going well, so she quit while ahead.
- cash outConvert assets to money
- walk awayDepart from something
- foldBend onto itself
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
- winningsMoney gained from betting
walk away clean · lucky streak · winning streak · good run · chips · betting · exit · restraint · temptation · greed · risk · wisdom · best laid plans · timing · enough · call it a day · stop · fortune
- gambling tacticsbasic strategy, card counting, betting strategy, betting systems, running count
quit while aheadthrow good money after bad
Investing further in failures
double down · push your luck · go for broke · let it ride · bet the farm
quit while aheadtempt fate
Recklessly invite misfortune
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory · fly too close to the sun · beat a dead horse · flog a dead horse · overreach
quit while aheadgreed is good
Motto praising ruthless ambition
insatiable · avarice · hubris
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