ði ˈɜːrli bɜːrd ɡets ðə wɜːrm
Animals
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Early-rising birds catch worms
What does "the early bird gets the worm" mean?
- Those who act first have the advantage
- Success comes to those who are prompt
Examples
- I arrived early—the early bird gets the worm.
- The early bird gets the worm, so let's start now.
- She believes the early bird gets the worm in business.
Origin
English proverb from 1670s. Based on observation that early-rising birds find more worms.
How to use it
Classic proverb encouraging promptness. May seem old-fashioned.
Similar expressions
first come first served
strike while iron is hot
Opposites
good things come to those who wait
Related idioms
- kill two birds with one stone
To accomplish two goals with a single action
- let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret accidentally
- elephant in the room
An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss
- don't count your chickens before they hatch
Don't assume success before it actually happens
- hold your horses
To wait and be patient
- fish out of water
Someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in a particular situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "the early bird gets the worm" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.