stitch in time
Meaning
Fixing a small problem early prevents it from becoming a much bigger one later.
Origin
From sewing: making one timely stitch to repair a small tear prevents it from ripping further, which would require many more stitches. Recorded as a proverb from at least the 18th century; the full form is “A stitch in time saves nine.”
Notes
Often used as advice meaning “deal with it now.” Somewhat proverb-like but common in speech and writing; the shortened “a stitch in time” is also understood.
Examples
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I fixed the loose button right away—a stitch in time saves nine.
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If you back up your files regularly, it’s a stitch in time that saves nine when something crashes.
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She addressed the misunderstanding early; a stitch in time saved nine for the whole team.
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Take care of that small crack in the windshield now—a stitch in time saves nine.
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He goes for routine checkups because he believes a stitch in time saves nine.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually appears as the full proverb: “A stitch in time saves nine.” The shortened form “a stitch in time” is used as a noun phrase or standalone comment. Article is typically “a.” Tense rarely changes.
Synonyms
- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
- nip it in the bud
- deal with it early
- take care of it now
Antonyms
- put it off
- procrastinate
- leave it till later