ProverbMoralityEnglish origin1670

Make the best of a bad bargain.

Meaning: When stuck with an unfavorable deal, focus energy on maximizing what value remains rather than dwelling on the mistake.

Origin: John Ray's proverb collection of 1670 includes it, alongside variants such as "make the best of a bad market" that have since died out. A bargain once struck cannot be undone, so the sensible course is to get what good one can from it.

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