don't count your chicks
English
Alternative forms
Proverb
- Ellipsis of don't count your chicks before they're hatched.
- 1988, Jack Early [pseudonym; Sandra Scoppettone], chapter 2, in Donato & Daughter, New York, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton, →ISBN, page 15:
- “I figure between fifteen and seventeen hours. She’s already coming out of rigor.” / Dina did a fast calculation. “So that would be somewhere between four and six p.m. yesterday.” / “Don’t count your chicks, Lieutenant. It’s not over ’til the fat lady sings.” / “I’m approximating. Cause?”
- 2019, Joan T. Petrosine, “Whew”, in Family Corners: Their Children Within, Meadville, Pa.: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., →ISBN:
- Angie, Margaret, and Mary joined them in chortling as their mates and sons went about the adult game. / “Mine’s longer than yours,” said one. / “Hell, it is not,” answered another. / Joe said, “Wait a minute, guys, don’t count your chicks. We haven’t measured Freddy’s or mine yet. Right, Fred?”
- 2020, Sam Hay, chapter 10, in Golden Egg (Spy Penguins), New York, N.Y.: Square Fish, published 2021, →ISBN:
- “Good work, Jackson.” Doreen Heckle-Flipper and a couple other penguins from the Mom Squad came shuffling over. “I think we’re soon gonna have to start calling you Mayor Rockflopper!” / The Games official next to them shook her head. “Don’t count your chicks. Look up there!” / The head scarf-wearing grandma penguin who’d been behind Jackson in the line bounded across the tightrope above them, almost in one leap.