ProverbWisdomItalian origin

Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani

Meaning: A small sure thing now is better than a bigger promise later.

Literally: Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow

Example: “Accetta l'offerta di oggi: meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani.” — Take today's offer: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 6 more languages

  • English: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
  • French: Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras (literally: One 'here you go' is worth more than two 'you'll get it')
  • Spanish: Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando (literally: A bird in hand is worth more than a hundred flying)
  • Japanese: 明日の百より今日の五十 (Asu no hyaku yori kyō no gojū) (literally: Fifty today is better than a hundred tomorrow)
  • German: Der Spatz in der Hand ist besser als die Taube auf dem Dach (literally: The sparrow in the hand is better than the pigeon on the roof)
  • Portuguese: Mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois a voar (literally: A bird in the hand is worth more than two flying)
  • Dutch: Beter één vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht (literally: Better one bird in the hand than ten in the air)
  • Russian: Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе (Luchshe sinitsa v rukakh, chem zhuravl' v nebe) (literally: Better a titmouse in the hands than a crane in the sky)
  • Polish: Lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu (literally: Better a sparrow in the fist than a pigeon on the roof)
  • Arabic: عصفور في اليد خير من عشرة على الشجرة (ʿUṣfūr fī l-yad khayr min ʿashara ʿalā sh-shajara) (literally: A sparrow in the hand is better than ten on the tree)
  • Turkish: Bugünkü tavuk yarınki kazdan iyidir (literally: Today's hen is better than tomorrow's goose)

Origin: The egg is in hand; the hen is only a promise.

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