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Bird in the hand

.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Possession is better than expectation.

Italian: “E meglio aver oggi un novo, che dimani una gallina.”


French: “Il vaut mieux avoir lʹœuf aujourdʹhui, que la poule demain” (Turkish).


“Un tien vaut mieux que deux tu lʹauras.”


“Un sou, quand il est assuré, vaut mieux que cinq en espérance.”


German: “Ein vogel in der hand ist besser als zehen uber land,”

       

“Besser ein spatz in der hand, als ein storch auf dem dache.”


Latin: “Ego spem pretio non emam.”


English: “A pound in the purse is worth two in the book.”


On the other side we have: “Qui ne sʹaventure, nʹa ni cheval mule.” “Nothing venture, nothing have.” “Give a sprat to catch a mackerel.” “Chi non sʹarrischia, non guadagna.”

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Billy
Billy Barlow
Billycock Hats
Bi-metallism
Binary Arithmetic
Binary Theory
Bingham’s Dandies
Binnacle
Birchin Lane
Bird
Bird in the hand
Bird in thy Bosom
Bird of Estë
Birds
Birds (protected by superstitions)
Bird’s-eye View
Birdcage Walk (St. James’s Park, London);
Birmingham Poet
Birthday Suit
Bis
Biscuit (French-Latin, bis, twice; cuit, baked)