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It is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that is the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- I know it’s an ugly-looking antenna, but it gets the job done, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Attested since c. 1962, originally Southern United States English; popularized by T. Bert Lance in May 1977.
Across languages
Translations
17 source translations are retained for this English entry.
-
Chinese Mandarin:
東西沒壞就別修它 /东西没坏就别修它
(dōngxi méi huài jiù bié xiū tā)
— leave something alone
-
Finnish:
älä korjaa sitä, mikä ei ole rikki
— leave something alone
-
French:
on ne change pas une équipe qui gagne
— leave something alone
-
German:
ist es nicht hin, mach es nicht heil
— leave something alone
-
German:
repariere nichts, was nicht kaputt ist
— leave something alone
-
Hebrew:
מה שעובד ־ לא נוגעים
— leave something alone
-
Hebrew:
אם זה לא מקולקל, אל תתקן
— leave something alone
-
Hindi:
जो चीज़ खराब नहीं है उसे ठीक ना करें
(jo cīz kharāb nahī̃ hai use ṭhīk nā karẽ)
— leave something alone
-
Hungarian:
ha nincs baja, ne javítsd meg
— leave something alone
-
Italian:
finché la barca va, lasciala andare
— leave something alone
-
Italian:
cavallo che vince non si cambia
— leave something alone
-
Japanese:
角を矯めて牛を殺す
(tsuno-wo-tamete ushi-wo-korosu)
— leave something alone
-
Polish:
nie szukaj dziury w całym
— leave something alone
-
Portuguese:
em time que está ganhando, não se mexe
— leave something alone
-
Spanish:
si funciona, no lo toques
— leave something alone
-
Swedish:
om det inte är trasigt, fixa det inte
— leave something alone
-
Ukrainian:
не зла́мано - не ладна́й
(ne zlámano - ne ladnáj)
— leave something alone
