To sell the bear's skin before one has caught the bear. 
Proverbs on a similar topic
- One „Take it” is worth two „Thou shalt have it”.
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
- Never say never.
- A living dog is better than a dead lion.
- Buy a pig in a poke.
- Have is have.
- Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
- He laughs best who laughs last.
- Night is the mother of counsel.
- For age and want save while you may; no morning sun lasts a whole day.
- Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
- Call no man happy till he dies.
- Drumming is not the way to catch a hare.
- Don't cross the bridge till you get to it.
- God sends a curst cow short horns.
- Honour the tree that gives you shelter.
- Every reed will not make a Pipe.
- If the lion's skin cannot, the fox's shall.
- Words fly, writings remain.
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in the same language
English
-
First catch your hare, then cook him.
- Don't sell the bear's skin before you've caught the bear.
Similar proverbs in another language
Latin
-
Currens per prata non est lepus esca parata.
Running through the meadows is not ready rabbit food.
French
-
Il faut attendre à cueillir la poire qu'elle soit mûre.
You must wait to pick the pear until it is ripe.
-
Il faut écorcher l' anguille quand on la tient.
You have to skin the eel when you hold it.
German
-
Man muß die Bärenhaut nicht eher verkaufen, bis man den Bären hat.
You don't have to sell the bear skin until you have the bear.
Czech
-
Ještě vlka nezabili a už mu na kůži pili.
They haven't killed the wolf yet, and they're already drinking on his skin.
-
Už kůži prodáváš, a vlk ještě v lese.
You're already selling the hide, and the wolf is still in the woods.
-
Neprodávej kůži, nežlis medvěda zabil.
Don't sell the hide before you've killed the bear.
-
Pije na nedvědí kůži, kteréž ještě nemá.
He drinketh on the infirm skin, which he hath not yet.
-
Nezabiv medvěda, neslibuj kože.
Don't kill the bear, don't promise the skins.
-
Neklať hrušek, až dozrají.
Don't hit the pears when they're ripe.