Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given proverb:
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

• A. There is no guarantee that the eggs you have will hatch into chickens.
• B. Don't be hasty in evaluating your assets.
• C. Eggs nowadays are produced artificially.
• D. One should patiently wait for chickens to hatch.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Don't be hasty in evaluating your assets.

A proverb is a short saying that states a general truth or advice. They're popular as they are told and retold through generations, incorporated in books and stories that grandparents narrate to children. Proverbs have a deeper meaning than the one you perceive at first. The given proverb is an advice, creating an analogy between chickens and assets. One shouldn't count chickens before they even hatch, it's possible some of the eggs may not have fertilized. The same way, before you get the fruit of your labour, you shouldn't evaluate how much you'll be paid or rewarded. It leads to unnecessary expectations and disappointments. Option B correctly explains the proverb, hence it's right. Option A is slightly similar in meaning to the proverb, but it changes the main focus to 'guarantee'. The proverb does not focus on this point, it focuses on not keeping high expectations, hence option A is incorrect. Option C is a general truth and doesn't explain the proverb. Option D is vague in meaning and does not give the correct meaning of the proverb. Hence C and D are incorrect.