A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[Romeo]

I never did understand that one. What does it mean and where does it come from?

[Purplebird]

Hi,

It means:- It is better to accept what one has than to try to get more and risk losing everything.

From the latin: plus valet in manibus avis unica fronde duabus
c.1450

Regards

P....

[jno]

it means if you're trying to catch a bird - you've got one in your hand already, then you see two in a bush - do you let the one go in hope of catching the other two? No, because then you lose what you have and might not actually catch the other two.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Liken it to sandwiches.

If you are hungry and want two rounds of sandwiches, but realistically only have enough filling for one. Do you?

1) Have one nice sandwich made with the filling and sacrifice having two.

Or

2) Make two sandwiches both of which will be of poor quality. You hunger may cease, but is it worth it?

Ergo, a decent sandwich is worth two crappy ones.

[Romeo]

Thanks for these answers. It's clear now.

[VS Prasad]

It is better to be content with what one has than to try to get more and risk losing what one already has. (It's better to have a small actual advantage than the chance of a greater one).

The earliest English version of the proverb is from the Bible and was translated into English in Wycliffe's version in 1382, although Latin texts have it from the 13th century:

Ecclesiastes IX - A living dog is better than a dead lion.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/64950.html

Cf. 13th-cent. L. plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis, one bird in the hands is worth more than two in the woods. Parodied by the American actress Mae West (1892-1980) in the 1934 movie Belle of the Nineties: �A man in the house is worth two in the street.�

It is more sekyr [certain] a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in the sky a-boue.
[c 1450 J. Capgrave Life of St. Katharine (EETS) ii. iii.]

Betyr ys a byrd in the hond than tweye in the wode.
[c 1470 Harley MS 3362 f.4]

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