Idioms

quit while you're ahead

This page is about the idiom quit while you're ahead

Meaning

This phrase can be used to express the idea that one should stop doing something that's rewarding but risky before something bad happens.

For example

  • Michael Schumacher got a lot out of car racing, and he was smart enough to quit while he was ahead.

  • You've already made a good profit from the share market, so why don't you sell your shares and quit while you're ahead.

Quick Quiz

We went to a casino and Carla won a hundred dollars. Then she quit while she was ahead because she didn't want to

a. win more money

b. lose what she'd won

c. upset her friends
a) win more money b) lose what she'd won c) upset her friends

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey