2006-07-14 12:24:55 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Because there is more value in what you already have and less in what you dont.
2006-07-14 12:42:51 · answer #1 · answered by Arnold Ziffel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's an old saying, perhaps attributable to Ben Franklin as Poor Richard. I'm not sure of that, but it sounds like one of those old sayings. What it means is if you've already got something (a bird in the hand) its not a good idea to let it go to chase something you MIGHT be able to get (the two birds in the bush), because you might not catch either of the birds in the bush, and having let go of the one in your hand, now you would have none!
OK, I'm wrong. Not Ben Franklin. I looked it up, and the origin comes from a proverb in the Bible, Ecclesiastes IX - "A living dog is better than a dead lion" and it eventually evolved into the idiom about the three birds.
2006-07-14 12:32:57 · answer #2 · answered by michael941260 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea is that the bird in the hand is already yours, you have already achieved it/acquired it, there is no question about it. The two in the bush refers to what you haven't yet gotten your hands on even though it may seem close. So it's better to have one thing securely for sure than two that are uncertain.
2006-07-14 12:29:33 · answer #3 · answered by Ladida 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer a bird with a bush
2006-07-15 04:00:57 · answer #4 · answered by pig m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bird in the hand refers to a bird of prey like a falcon or hawk, that would be trained, to catch and bring back two that were in a bush.
2006-07-14 13:52:10 · answer #5 · answered by tonyspop1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you have the one in your hand. The 2 in the bush- well, you may or may not get them. In essence, never count on something you don't already have. Count on the real here and now.
2006-07-14 14:48:39 · answer #6 · answered by Empress ~of~Roam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It meant that you would eat tonight. The 2 that were in the bush were not going into the pot. The one in your hand was.
2006-07-14 12:30:41 · answer #7 · answered by just me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you have the one in hand- you can do with it as you want, but you've got it. The two in the bush are more tempting (two is better than one), but there's no guarantee you'll get them. The one in your hand is a sure bet, though.
2006-07-14 13:37:04 · answer #8 · answered by dpfw16 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Becasue you have it and if you try for the two in the bush you may lose what you have
2006-07-14 14:47:58 · answer #9 · answered by raven blackwing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe Bush will get bird flu
2006-07-14 12:27:23 · answer #10 · answered by changRdie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't let go of something you do have to try and catch something you might have, because you could very well end up with nothing at all.
2006-07-14 14:38:31 · answer #11 · answered by Kate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋