Phrase guide

waste not, want not

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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1

proverb

Meaning 1

If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 儉以防匱 /俭以防匮 (jiǎnyǐfángkuì) — If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need
  • Finnish: säästäväisyys on hyve — If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need
  • French: tout est bon dans le cochon — If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need
  • German: spare in der Zeit, so hast du in der Not — If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need
  • Italian: il risparmio è il miglior guadagno — If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need
  • Polish: nie marnuj, a nie będziesz w potrzebie — If one is not wasteful then one will not be in need