ProverbWisdom
Italian origin
Italian originNon dire gatto se non ce l'hai nel sacco
Meaning: Don't claim success until you actually have it.
Literally: Don't say "cat" until it's in the sack
Example: “Siamo in vantaggio, ma la partita non è finita: non dire gatto se non ce l'hai nel sacco.” — We're ahead, but the game isn't over: don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 4 more languages
English: Don't count your chickens before they hatch
French: Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué (literally: Don't sell the bear's skin before killing it)
Spanish: No vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo (literally: Don't sell the bear's skin before hunting it)
Japanese: 捕らぬ狸の皮算用 (Toranu tanuki no kawazan'yō) (literally: Counting the skin of an uncaught raccoon dog)
German: Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben (literally: One should not praise the day before the evening)
Dutch: Verkoop de huid niet voordat de beer geschoten is (literally: Don't sell the skin before the bear is shot)
Russian: Цыплят по осени считают (Tsyplyat po oseni schitayut) (literally: Chicks are counted in autumn)
Polish: Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu (literally: Don't share out the skin while it's still on the bear)
Korean: 김칫국부터 마신다 (Gimchitgukbuteo masinda) (literally: Drinking the kimchi soup first)
Origin: The football coach Giovanni Trapattoni made it his trademark saying, and it became the title of his 2015 autobiography, Non dire gatto.
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- tirare l'acqua al proprio mulino to act in self-interest, redirecting resources or advantage to oneself.
- tenere a freno la lingua to refrain from speaking; to keep silent.
- in pompa magna with ceremony, grandeur, and great fanfare.
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