Modern English Phrase of the Week #10: Look before you leap

This is an old saying that means the opposite of “strike while the iron is hot.” Sometimes you worry too much about not letting an opportunity escape, and you don’t take time to think about what you are doing. This can get you in trouble! So this proverb tells us to make sure we understand the situation before acting. The key is to know when you should follow “strike while the iron is hot,” and act quickly without stopping too long to think, and when you should follow “look before you leap,” and take time to observe and think about the situation.

これは古いことわざで、「鉄は熱いうちに打て」とは反対の意味です。時には、チャンスを逃すまいと、考えなしに行動します。これでトラブルを起こすことがあります！そこで、このことわざに従えば、行動する前にキチンと状況を把握します。「鉄は熱いうち」に従って待たずに行動するべき時と、この「飛ぶ前に見ろ」に従って注意や思考に時間をとって状況を見極めることがコツです。