Un homme averti en vaut deux

Meaning: Advance warning doubles a person's effectiveness.

Literally: A forewarned man is worth two

Example: “La route sera verglacée demain matin ; un homme averti en vaut deux.” — The road will be icy tomorrow morning; forewarned is forearmed.

English equivalent: Forewarned is forearmed

Origin: The arithmetic is the appeal: the warning is treated as an addition of strength rather than merely of knowledge. English says forewarned is forearmed, which makes the same claim more abstractly.

More French idioms

On ne peut être juge et partie Nobody may rule on a matter in which they have an interest.
Un jugement de Salomon A ruling of great wisdom that exposes the truth by testing it.
C'est kif-kif It makes no difference at all.
Une fine lame A highly skilled practitioner.
Sur l'air des lampions Chanted rhythmically on three insistent notes, as a crowd does.
Perdre son latin To be completely baffled by something.

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