Sayings

A stitch in time saves nine

This page is about the saying "A stitch in time saves nine"

Possible meaning:
Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That's a small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive repair job later. Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll need 9 stitches!

Note:
stitch (noun) = a link made with thread in sewing; | in time = not late | Why nine and not eight or ten? Perhaps because "nine" rhymes, approximately, with "time".

Quick Quiz

Mary told her husband "a stitch in time saves nine" because she

a. wanted to buy a new sewing machine

b. wanted to get her car repaired immediately

c. was afraid she would run out of time
a) wanted to buy a new sewing machine b) wanted to get her car repaired immediately c) was afraid she would run out of time

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger