A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

English Idiom

Meaning: It's better to keep what you already have rather than taking a risk to get something better that you might lose.

Origin: The idiom dates back to the 16th century and is found in John Heywood's collection of English proverbs. It originates from medieval falconry, where a bird in the hand (captured prey) was more valuable than two birds in the bush (potential prey).

A figure holding a gemstone on a cliff connects to a treasure chest across a chasm symbolizing opportunity and creativity — OpenAI's DALL-E generated image

Examples

After much deliberation, Sarah decided to accept the job offer she had rather than waiting for a potential offer that might never come.
When offered a risky investment, Tom remembered the advice that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and chose a safer option.
Despite the potential for a larger payout, Emma chose to sell her shares now rather than waiting and risking a market downturn.
Jacob held onto his current apartment because he wasn't sure if he could find a better deal elsewhere.
Rather than risking injury for a higher score, the gymnast played it safe and secured her current position.
Clara chose to publish her novel with a smaller publisher who guaranteed acceptance instead of waiting for a big-name publisher to respond.
Even though the other job seemed promising, Mark stayed with his current employer due to the stability it provided.
She decided to stay in her current relationship, valuing the certainty it brought over the potential of finding someone new.
During negotiations, he opted to take the sure deal on the table rather than holding out for a better one that might fall through.
Faced with a choice between a guaranteed small prize or a chance at a bigger one, Toby took the sure thing, remembering that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.