Phrase guide

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

proverb

Meaning 1

Do not procrastinate whatever that can be done today until tomorrow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: he who hesitates is lost, procrastination is the thief of time, there's no time like the present

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: he who hesitates is lost, procrastination is the thief of time, there's no time like the present

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Attributed to Thomas Jefferson

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: не отлагай днешната работа за утре (ne otlagaj dnešnata rabota za utre) — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Czech: kdo zaváhá, nežere — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Finnish: ei huomenna vaan tänään — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Finnish: se pelaa ei, joka pelkää — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • German: was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Italian: chi si ferma è perduto — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Polish: co masz zrobić jutro, zrób dzisiaj — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Polish: nie odkładaj na jutro tego, co możesz zrobić dzisiaj — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Polish: ten kto się waha, jest zgubiony — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Russian: промедле́ние сме́рти подо́бно (promedlénije smérti podóbno) — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Scottish Gaelic: is fheàrr aon diugh na dà mhàireach — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Turkish: bugünün işini yarına bırakma — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Ukrainian: ніко́ли не відклада́й на за́втра те, що мо́жеш зроби́ти сього́дні (nikóly ne vidkladáj na závtra te, ščo móžeš zrobýty sʹohódni) — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow
  • Vietnamese: việc hôm nay chớ để ngày mai — do not procrastinate whatever can be done today until tomorrow